My friend Bob is gone…..

Dear Diary,

   Today, I learned my good friend Bob Loder passed away.  Sad….so very sad….gee…..he didn’t want to die….sad.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807270369

I found out today.  I didn’t see the paper.  I wished I had known. 

I went for a bike ride this morning and on the way back I stopped by his gallery as I do on so many bike rides and walks.  I was going to get coffee for us and sit and chat about all kinds of things as I often do.  We would talk about politics, art, social disaray, family, life and the world….

We had the commonality of art and world views to keep our talks going for a few hours.  No more.

I stopped as I usually do…he was going to help me finish a painting…no more.

I asked if I could bring my bike to his studio and the building owner said, "You don’t know?"  I said, " KNOW WHAT?  IS HE OK?"

She looked at me with "the" look.  I repeated to her again …IS HE OK??

She looked at me and said, " He passed away."  WHAT??  WHAT DID YOU SAY??  HE DIED?  WHAT?  OH NO, WHAT?

She looked at me and said, "If you want to come in the back to talk you may."  I said, "no thanks, I will go." 

I cried.

No more talks about his skies…..no more talk about world politics….no more talks….so so sad.

I put my helmet on and cried.  I put my sunglasses on and I cried.  I stood in the sun and I cried. 

I took out my phone and called Shirley….She answered …..hi Shirley, it’s me…Deb

She said you didn’t know did you…I said no….i’m at the gallery…I didn’t know.  Are you ok?  How?  What happened??

She explained and told me I was the last one to have a conversation with him.  That was two weeks ago.  We talked about dying and about lingering…and how he didn’t want to do that if he was ill….

I’m so sad to lose a good friend in Bob.  He understood me.  so sad.  I understood his skies….sad.

Bless you dear friend  …. May your spirit rest in beautiful peace….my friend Bob Loder….peace to you friend….

Peace,

LYB