The last couple of years have not been very good. I've had a car wreck, been diagnosed with high blood pressure and have had a number of friends and a cousin die both last year and this year.

Just today I found out that another one of my friends who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year is not going to make it. He has maybe 1 to 3 months at most. He's in very bad shape now, in the hospital and can't even pick up a phone. The guy's 38 years old.

What gives? I've had people close to me die before but not so many in such a short period of time! This is really pissing me off!!!

At this point, four friends and one cousin have died and two friends are terminally ill. One from cancer and the other from Lou Gehrig's.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Damn dude that sucks. I couldnt imagine having to deal with all of that, and i hope i never have to deal with it on the scale you are. Sorry to hear it.

rant away and yell and scream here if you want. that's a lot for anyone to handle.

Posted by rainman8889 At this point, four friends and one cousin have died and two friends are terminally ill. One from cancer and the other from Lou Gehrig's.

Spend as much time with them as possible. We all die, life is about how we spend our living time. I feel very sorry for you, it must be awful to lose so many people you care about. I've lost a friend to Lou Gehrig's disease, it took many years for him to die, it was awful for him and for everyone around him. We just tried to stay cheerful, he kept his sense of humour, that helped.

Best wishes.

Posted by big dave Damn dude that sucks. I couldnt imagine having to deal with all of that, and i hope i never have to deal with it on the scale you are. Sorry to hear it.

Posted by Nvr2loud Spend as much time with them as possible. We all die, life is about how we spend our living time. I feel very sorry for you, it must be awful to lose so many people you care about. I've lost a friend to Lou Gehrig's disease, it took many years for him to die, it was awful for him and for everyone around him. We just tried to stay cheerful, he kept his sense of humour, that helped. Best wishes.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the support and your kind words.

This has been pretty rough and I definitely will spend as much time as possible with these guys. The friend with Lou Gehrig's is no longer able to speak but I still do my best to at least give him a laugh or two. This guy was a very big help to me when I started working at my last site. I came very close to quitting and he talked me through the really rough times there. I've known the other guy close to 20 years and we have had quite a few good laughs together and quite a few long talks over a number of beers. I will miss that. Just seems crazy losing so many people in this short period of time. It was getting to the point where I didn't want to answer the phone in case it was even more bad news.

Posted by DiVaMoNKeY rant away and yell and scream here if you want. that's a lot for anyone to handle.

I definitely will. It helps to get this off my chest. At least I can breathe better.

i sometimes wonder this myself.
life will be clicking along okey dokey and god, or whatever passes for god, decides, 'hey fuck you. take this.' and derails your life into shattered pieces. And you have to pick the shit up and start all over again.

It's reading things like this t hat help me appreciate what I have going for me. I hope everything works out- in the meantime, rant a lot.

Wow Rainman, that does totally suck.

My uncle died of Lou Gehrigs and it was indeed awful. I remember when he was at the point where he couldn't speak anymore but still had his "wits" about him. He could understand everything I said and he even kept his sense of humor.

My father, my mother and his wife even took him to Lourdes where supposedly miracle healing can happen and they all hopped in the water and dragged him through. It was the most amazing and touching thing I've ever seen. He died at 43 years old.

I'm so sorry for what both you and yours friends (and family) are going through.

*hugs*

Posted by Debi I'm so sorry for what both you and yours friends (and family) are going through. *hugs*

Thanks Debi. That hug really came at a good time.

I just found out that my friend with the cancer took a turn for the worse and died today. Funeral is on Friday so I'll be booking that off with my boss.

The other friend can no longer speak so I will be writing to him to try to help him keep his spirits up between visits. Fortunately other friends are also keeping in contact with him as well so thankfully, he's not alone.

Posted by Samurai i sometimes wonder this myself. life will be clicking along okey dokey and god, or whatever passes for god, decides, 'hey fuck you. take this.' and derails your life into shattered pieces. And you have to pick the shit up and start all over again.

I hear you on that one Samurai. I was thinking about the changes that have happened throughout my life and see a pattern where life is moving along and then suddenly, huge upheaval. It hits the fan for a while and then afterwards, goes back to running normally.

Posted by hydrotherapy It's reading things like this t hat help me appreciate what I have going for me. I hope everything works out- in the meantime, rant a lot.

Thank you.

Aw,so sorry to hear about your friend,Rainman,my thoughts are with ya.

Posted by Wiccan Aw,so sorry to hear about your friend,Rainman,my thoughts are with ya.

Thank you Wiccan. It is a big help knowing there are people out there who give support in times like this. I'd be a basket case if I was completely alone.

Posted by rainman8889 Thank you Wiccan. It is a big help knowing there are people out there who give support in times like this. I'd be a basket case if I was completely alone.

Well, in that case, my condolences also. There are probably other lurkers on this thread, like me, who can't really think of anything useful to say. For what it's worth, I'm sincerely sorry to hear about your friends - it really does make one pause and appreciate the positive things in one's life.

Posted by metawaffle Well, in that case, my condolences also. There are probably other lurkers on this thread, like me, who can't really think of anything useful to say. For what it's worth, I'm sincerely sorry to hear about your friends - it really does make one pause and appreciate the positive things in one's life.

Thank you. I've been in the position many times where I didn't know what to say to someone after they've suffered a loss or even going through a hard time.

Reading these posts and thinking about my friends is helping me to count my blessings. The memories and the laughs shared. And those, I am definitely grateful for.