Hi Linda, Thank you for those sentiments. I do appreciate it. You know, we never really know how much somebody means to us until one day they are not there. If you love someone, tell them. If someone is a good friend, tell them. If you admire and respect someone, tell them. If someone is special to you, tell them. If you do not, when you have the opportunity to do so, one day you will no longer have the opportunity. Reflect on that... Gary Simpson

Hi Everyone, Yes Gary, as Linda said, we are touched that you shared that with us. Linda has shared a personal part of her life twice at least in this thread. When grief strikes it is good to be among friends. I remember when my great grandfather died, I had been teaching for just a few years. I went to school the Sunday of his funeral, locked the door to my office and cried and cried. Grandfather told the story of when his father died when he was 12 how he cried and cried. A man asked him what the matter was, he told him, "Well you would cry too if you had just lost your best friend!" David

Hi David, Thanks for that. Linda has indeed shared some dark moments of her life with us. It takes courage to do that - bare your heart and soul for others to see. Why? Because it invites criticism. Regarding crying. I cry at times - especially when I lose someone dear to me. I am not ashamed to admit it. I have performed five eulogies at funerals. Once for each of my grandparents who I loved very much and three for friends who I also loved very much. If you want to try something tough, offer to be a eulogist. There are few tasks that are so emotionally draining and demanding. On each occasion I was able to "perform" as though I had a heart of steel. I think I wavered once or twice during each of them. I knew I had to display strength for the families and friends involved. After the funerals I had countless people come up to me and say: "I could never have done what you just did." Many asked me how I was able to do what I did - to read out emotionally charged eulogies that I had written. My answer was simple. I told them that I just had no more tears left to cry. I drained all my tears at the dozen or so rehearsals that I always do beforehand. Crying in certain circumstances is NOT unmanly, as many would have you believe. When your heart is being torn apart it is OK to cry, in my opinion. If you stub your toe or cut your finger and you cry then that is NOT OK to cry, again, in my opinion. Now that my second great teacher has passed on I guess I can consider myself a Ronin. Gary Simpson.

Sorry to hear about your good friend Gary.

Thanks Winston, You know, I have been reflecting on this all week and, apart from the loss of a friend and mentor, two things strike me: 1 - the MASSIVE amount of accumulated knowledge and expertise that has been lost, and 2 - I never got to say farewell. Both make me very sad. Gary Simpson