Well, it's not quite angst, but it's sadness.
I just heard today that my friend, whom I often refered to here as 'Gun-Buddy' or 'Gun-Friend' died.
He had a stroke, must have been not long after I saw him last.
I've had a gut feeling for the last little while. Looking for his truck at the grocerie store when I'm at the bus stop. Hoping to see him drive into the mall while I'm headed to work.
I found out when I went into the grocerie store and was talking to the guy in the meat department.
He was there every day for his medications and just to go talk to everybody.
I used to look forward to seeing him when I worked in the photo lab. I could listen to him talk about anything for hours. He knew everybody, did everything, had his fingers in more pies than a clumsy baker.
I learned alot from him, he was sort of my mentor when it came to firearms. Something of a grandfather figure, having not known my one grandpa, and ;iving across the country from the other. This one was right down the street.
It's hard being in my room because it's filled with things he's given me, or got me into, or that I bought from him.
I met him while I was working at the grogerie store. A Loblaws for any canucks out there. i worked in the photo lab and he'd come in now and then, trying to fnid out from the boss if he could buy the empty disposable cameras off us.
He would take the batteries out and take them down to the hospital where his wife worked and make sure the sickkids had batteries for their toys, the old folks has batteries for their TV remotes and music players.
Just generaly a good guy.
So, because my boss was too busy to really think about that sort of thing, I started collecting the batteries and giving them to him, which I was allowed to do as an employee.
In exchange, every time he found a neat old knife or something for my collection, hed give it to me.
Eventualy he got me into firearms, and I'm taking the course to get my licence this weekend. I was hoping he could take me out to fire my first gun sometime, like we always talked about.
I was also planning on getting my first gun from him.
Now that he's gone it makes me wonder how how much I really care about guns. He was my connection, he knew where to get what, or could keep an eye out for it. He could have taught me alot more. I'm kind of scared to get into this on my own now.
For a split second I thought about not even taking the course this weekend. But I will for him.
He'd be happy to know I went through with it.
He always encouraged me about everything I did. He told me I was going to make it big. I felt like I was part of something special for knowing him. I'm happy I knew him, and I can't say it's all gone now because everything he did for me stuck with me.
But I'm going to miss him. I was even thinking today about christmas, and all the plans for what I wanted to do for everybody, and I thought about what I was going to do for him.
Few people in my life with whom I've had regular contact, have died. I'vel ived kind of a sheltered life really. Pretty easy by most people's standards. I guess is was high time I took my own personal dose of reality.
I wish somehow I could have told him how much his friendhhip meant to me. That he was more than just the guy who gave me neat things and sold me cool stuff for cheap.
But I don't think there was anything I could have done.
I'm going to call his widow sometime soon. Just to let her know that if she needs anything. I'm just a couple streets down, I can be over in five minutes.
I'm gonna go to bed soon.
I just heard today that my friend, whom I often refered to here as 'Gun-Buddy' or 'Gun-Friend' died.
He had a stroke, must have been not long after I saw him last.
I've had a gut feeling for the last little while. Looking for his truck at the grocerie store when I'm at the bus stop. Hoping to see him drive into the mall while I'm headed to work.
I found out when I went into the grocerie store and was talking to the guy in the meat department.
He was there every day for his medications and just to go talk to everybody.
I used to look forward to seeing him when I worked in the photo lab. I could listen to him talk about anything for hours. He knew everybody, did everything, had his fingers in more pies than a clumsy baker.
I learned alot from him, he was sort of my mentor when it came to firearms. Something of a grandfather figure, having not known my one grandpa, and ;iving across the country from the other. This one was right down the street.
It's hard being in my room because it's filled with things he's given me, or got me into, or that I bought from him.
I met him while I was working at the grogerie store. A Loblaws for any canucks out there. i worked in the photo lab and he'd come in now and then, trying to fnid out from the boss if he could buy the empty disposable cameras off us.
He would take the batteries out and take them down to the hospital where his wife worked and make sure the sickkids had batteries for their toys, the old folks has batteries for their TV remotes and music players.
Just generaly a good guy.
So, because my boss was too busy to really think about that sort of thing, I started collecting the batteries and giving them to him, which I was allowed to do as an employee.
In exchange, every time he found a neat old knife or something for my collection, hed give it to me.
Eventualy he got me into firearms, and I'm taking the course to get my licence this weekend. I was hoping he could take me out to fire my first gun sometime, like we always talked about.
I was also planning on getting my first gun from him.
Now that he's gone it makes me wonder how how much I really care about guns. He was my connection, he knew where to get what, or could keep an eye out for it. He could have taught me alot more. I'm kind of scared to get into this on my own now.
For a split second I thought about not even taking the course this weekend. But I will for him.
He'd be happy to know I went through with it.
He always encouraged me about everything I did. He told me I was going to make it big. I felt like I was part of something special for knowing him. I'm happy I knew him, and I can't say it's all gone now because everything he did for me stuck with me.
But I'm going to miss him. I was even thinking today about christmas, and all the plans for what I wanted to do for everybody, and I thought about what I was going to do for him.
Few people in my life with whom I've had regular contact, have died. I'vel ived kind of a sheltered life really. Pretty easy by most people's standards. I guess is was high time I took my own personal dose of reality.
I wish somehow I could have told him how much his friendhhip meant to me. That he was more than just the guy who gave me neat things and sold me cool stuff for cheap.
But I don't think there was anything I could have done.
I'm going to call his widow sometime soon. Just to let her know that if she needs anything. I'm just a couple streets down, I can be over in five minutes.
I'm gonna go to bed soon.
take care.