We met when we were kids in high school, i was always the shy reserved one and he was the fowl mouthed problem of the entire class. I remember the first time i spoke to Teng, i came to class that morning and during break everyone was out playing, i was in the mist of some kids and everyone was talking about kid stuff when i realized Teng for the first time. I asked him his name and he gave me a wrong name, we were in 7th grade and i think i thought his name was "Thomas Blaze" until we were in 9th grade. He was loud, annoying childish but you just had to have him around because he was the life blood of any gathering. Teng, was originally from the part of China now Taiwan but all most of his life was spent in the United States. We practically grew up together and moved up state until we ended up in Sacramento California, he was the product of a tough time in America and so was i, but the impact in him was far greater that made him into the metal minded man that he became, he never let people down and was so dependable that it made me feel inadequate. I feel even greater lose because Tang never had any kids, his wife didn't have any children in 10 years of marriage and died after she developed a rare kind of cancer. Tang, never got married again and i never knew why, could have been that he mourned his wife until he joined her, he never showed it but sometimes, i saw it in him and it was more painful for me to watch because you know that you friend suffers and although he is not on a destructive path, you just know, pain eats him up inside. in 2014 we started our joint venture together but he could not live long enough to see the benefit, we are both old men but left me here sooner than expected. I often sit and think of Tang and the interesting life that we have had together, from the time we got lost in Waco, Texas and ended up stopping to have a drink in a Biker gang bar and had to run for our lives or when we visited his grandma in the 70s, with whom we smoked weed for the first time... All i can say is that i miss my friend and his death has left a huge hole in my heart, a hole that may never be filled. I will advise everyone to be good to your friends and family because when they die, its going to be a painful feeling if they die without you having said to them, i appreciate you. I am just luckly i happened to have said it to him on our final day together. I will surely mourn my friend, till the day i join him as well.
Welcome to the forum Michael...I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your lifelong friend.., but thank you for sharing with us. At first I thought you were 2 old men together, but I see you're only 59 years old , so your friend was even younger than you, .. that is so tragic..!! May he R.I.P
Michael that was such a great personal story. I totally agree with you about appreciating everyone in your life. We lost my brother aged 40 a loss you can never replace. Thank you.
Hello Michael - as sad as your story is of Tang, you were very lucky to have known such a person and to have him in your life so long. I would cherish his memory always, as I'm sure you will
A poignant story Michael thanks, I have lost a sister and many friends over the past few years, luckily I have usually managed to say my goodbyes, which as you say you did with Tang....and yes appreciate all the people around you while you are together...
Not great - but I prefer to remain chirpy even so So pleased to hear you are feeling better Michael, great to have you here
Welcome to the Forum @Michael Lehmkuhl. You are definitely among those who know the grief and pain of losing a loved one and who also are looking forward to the day they can see them once again too. I hope you will feel at home here...it's the best Forum I've ever found...but we do tend to get a little rowdy now and them!
Thanks for your message Michael. Enjoyed reading your opening post, although sad Hope you will share more memories with us