I just got a phone call from a mutual friend who told me my friend Dick has passed away. I got a huge amount of emails from him Wednesday morning....a lot of the good stuff I share with you came from him. We were in contact only for maybe 4 months, and only through emails, before he happened to be in LA and we met at the local Starbucks for great conversation and coffee for 2 hours, about a year ago, during which he gave me some CD's and a book.Dick was a part of geeeeeZ; he never stopped encouraging me in uplifting, astonishingly kind and inspirational ways, and I'll miss the heck out of him. It was so sudden. His church had just hired a new Pastor and Dick was so proud and happy about their choice....he was so looking forward to that experience. I hope he's resting in the arms of the most important Pastor ever................ Take good care of my buddy, Lord. I'll miss him a lot.
I feel I need to say one thing more, Dick would want me to. If you have a new, or suddenly darker or oddly-shaped mole on you, have it checked out tomorrow. TOMORROW.
Z
24 comments:
So sorry for your loss!
And I must agree about the mole. I have had 38 skin lesions removed so far some of which have been carcinoma. DON"T procrastinate!
Amazing story. Sorry to hear the news.
I'm so sorry for your loss too, Z. My freckled skin gets examined by the dermatologist every four=six months. Right now I'm nursing several spots that have been zapped.
What a pity that this happens in these days, but it does. I heard a doctor say once that if he had a melanoma on his foot, he'd have his leg cut off. That was a long time ago. I know treatments have changed, but it is still a killer.
My sympathies for you, Z.
Z,
Sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your friend.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Ps 61:2
Sorry for your loss Z.
So sorry to hear about your loss. It is always difficult to lose a friend. My prayers are with you and your friend.
Z, I survived lung cancer in part because it was discovered early by sheer accident. I have a nephew fighting melanoma now hand have lost a sister and a father to various forms of cancer. Knowing this dread disease can cause early death does not lessen the sting of the death of a loved one. Sorry for your loss, but maybe, just maybe Dick's passing and your writing about it will save someone else's life.
Prayers sent winging the way of Dick's family, may they find comfort in the arms of Almighty God.
thank you so much, everyone.
It came as a complete shock this afternoon. And yes, Mr and Mrs Z have been too well acquainted with malignant melanomas...
I felt I had to add that warning about moles for Dick, who wasn't a young man by a long shot, much older than us, and he went very suddenly.
Beverly, I can well imagine a doctor saying that a 'long time ago'. Also, even only 15 yrs ago, they'd take FOOTBALL sized areas for a melanoma! Today, they're much better at it because of the MOS technique...if you recognize something NEW, or something just LOOKS different (darker, suddenly misshapen, etc.), they can do great things and a complete cure. BUT, it has to be diagnosed and acted upon early and by someone who really knows what he's doing AND you're right, you must be checked often after that.
Friends, have someone check you over once in a while...use a mirror for your back. It's important.
I'm feeling good about this..for Dick. He'd be glad we're talking about this, I just know it.
Thanks very, very much for all of your kind words.
Sad to lose a friend but a saint never really dies.
ELBRO: My computer won't SEND....email's a mess.
In reply to your email regarding if you should delete that commenter, please do. All of them. Any time. Sad, but that's that. Thanks very much.
Priscilla...no emailing. Sorry!
We just can't figure it out.
I click on a new email, it opens but there's no SEND for me.
The last two weeks or so, I've had to click on REPLY and then type and send a reply..I could send new emails, no problem, but couldn't click ON an email, open it, and then send. Had to hit reply first.
Now, I can't do ANYTHING...no new emails, either! And Mr. Z's having a heck of a time trying to figure out what's up. Sorry.
I'll be here..but not there, apparently for a while.
Z, I'm so sorry you lost a good friend. Life can be a roller coaster ride for sure. One just never knows what's just around the corner.
My condolences to his family, and to you, Z.
Remember Z, just a couple of weeks ago, how my e-mails to you were kicked back to me? It must have been an indication then that something was wrong.
But why after that did it work again? Beats me. Computer hell strikes again! Thanks for the heads up.
Pris
I too am subject to skin cancer (VERY fair and spent MANY years in the sun before anyone intimated that might not be too keen for a person like me). I too have had a number of serious divots taken off my body. The BZ forehead looks something like a topographic map of the moon. My condolences on the loss of your friend Dick.
BZ
And BTW folks, for those of us who need FREQUENT examination -- you might not be getting quite so much of that in ANY kind of a timely fashion under ObamaKare.
BZ
My sympathy to you and His family.
Oh, Z! I'm so sorry to read this sad news! My sincerest sympathies.
My brother-in-law had treatment for melanoma a few years ago. Several months ago, an x-ray found a spot on his lung. But he won't phone us back to tell us what the outcome of that spot was! He's completely clammed up!
We may have to make a trip to CA to find out what's going on.
Sorry z, he sounds like a good friend.
RIP Dick. God Speed to our brother.
Thanks so much, everyone...I really appreciate that.
It felt very strange getting up this morning and finding no Dick O emails in my INBOX. I'll really miss him ... your kindnesses and your conversation about skin cancer really help; He'd have liked that. If it helps ONE PERSON, that's a very good thing. xxx
Aww sorry to hear about your friend. A mole? The hubby has an odd one of those that I keep telling him to get checked.
Sorry for your loss Z.
My deepest condolences, Z.
Anyone who was held in such high esteem by you, must have been a remarkable person and friend.
A special delivery to Heaven's Inbox... ;)
thank you very much, miradena...he was a very good guy
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