tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post4593229806647355487..comments2024-01-09T13:55:46.379-05:00Comments on 15 Minute Lunch: Open (Closet) Door.Johnny Virgilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07914217086250206369noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-49043029325702721212009-05-10T15:05:00.000-04:002009-05-10T15:05:00.000-04:00I would totally love to see a picture of the sword...I would totally love to see a picture of the swords and holders you guys made together....<br /><br />That is so totally cool...who does that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-90472116528490957082009-05-10T00:09:00.000-04:002009-05-10T00:09:00.000-04:00Have you ever watched Medium on NBC? Maybe you sho...Have you ever watched Medium on NBC? Maybe you should...<br /><br />Quite amazing, not just your story but all the others on here in the comments. You hear about these things from time to time, but to see so many observations gathered in one place... breathtaking.Ms.PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06542602867472447035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-55571166772754621522009-05-09T17:41:00.000-04:002009-05-09T17:41:00.000-04:00As a Catholic-raised lady who has decided through ...As a Catholic-raised lady who has decided through life to not associate myself with said religion, I believe 10000% in afterlife, not HEAVEN persay but something else has to be out there. <br /><br />One of my BF's passed 18 years ago right before my HS Graduation...and I still feel the pain. But, him & I always had a thing about 11:11. If we ever felt the need to chat, it was always "call me at our time" or "meet me at the park at the usual time"...which was 11:11. <br /><br />Since he's passed, I see 11:11 all the time. Me, cleaning the kitchen on a Saturday so many years later...I'll look up at the clock and it's 11:11. I fall asleep early, sick, stressed, needing sleep badly & I'll open my eyes..11:11. Random. But I see it. My mom does too. She loved him as much as I did as he was a constant presence in our house and she was the one that had to break the news to me that he had passed. Even after all of these years, at least one per month, we'll be chatting on the phone about whatever & she'll end the conversation with..."I love you & I saw 11:11 last night"<br /><br />He's with you. He will always be with you. Trust me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-55724567525475918092009-05-08T00:26:00.000-04:002009-05-08T00:26:00.000-04:00After reading the comment about the dogs going nut...After reading the comment about the dogs going nuts when their master died, I remember when my daughter's brother-in-law died, around that same time his normally docile cat she was watching for him (and you know yourself how cats exist on a different plane than other animals)just spazzed out and puffed up and ran around like it was crazy for a couple of minutes then hid for two days afterward. All we can figure out is that she saw his ghost and freaked out!!<br /><br />Another time, about a month after a friend of mine died, I was sitting alone in my house and my thoughts went to her, and suddenly the scent of her perfume was all around me. It was not just a memory of her perfume either because it lasted for about 2 or 3 minutes. I denied it was her for many, many years, but now 35 years later, I have seen so many strange and wonderful things of this caliber that now I believe it was her.SunSpotBabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458795387822122072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-3738516425208572462009-05-07T22:54:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:54:00.000-04:00i can't explain to you how awesome it is that you ...i can't explain to you how awesome it is that you announced your sexual preference at your friend's funeral. <br /><br />will you come to my funeral please? nobody would be mad at you because the majority of my family doesn't like "the gays". i am the exception, but i will be in heaven so it's not like i will be offended or anything.Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17383214103702764400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-61304162800417156202009-05-07T17:35:00.000-04:002009-05-07T17:35:00.000-04:00glad that you are back! i know how hard it is to ...glad that you are back! i know how hard it is to lose a close friend - a close friend of mine was murdered (late night mugging gone really bad) and the loss was indescribable! took me several years to get out of that mindspace... about 4 months before he was killed we did a road trip to pittsburgh from DC - he's a heavy smoker and i'm not but i couldn't let him suffer for the 5ish hour trip so i let him smoke out the window. the smell didn't linger afterwards so it didn't bug me - a year later, i'm driving by a building we used to work in together and a song comes on that we used to like - suddenly there was a huge wiff of cigarette smoke in my car - the area i was in was deserted so it couldn't have been smoke coming in from outside... i like to think it was him teasing me from the afterlife...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-19306451060780409052009-05-06T16:51:00.000-04:002009-05-06T16:51:00.000-04:00It never gets easy losing someone and usually the ...It never gets easy losing someone and usually the 1st year is always the hardest. <br />When one of my childhood friend's died that was like a brother to both my sister and I, my sister and I decided to sleep in the same bedroom for old times sake. For the 3 nights I was home, in the morning at 7am, simultaneously our door bell would ring (no one was there) and the old fax machine my dad used in my sister's room would ring and go off, like it was getting a fax. The morning of his funeral we realized the fax machine wasn't plugged in, but the phone cord was still hooked up. WEIRD.Idea #527https://www.blogger.com/profile/12544929733944996783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-27469370176527629912009-05-06T10:21:00.000-04:002009-05-06T10:21:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for sharing this all with us. I'm g...Thanks so much for sharing this all with us. I'm glad to see you back.<br /><br />And "I'm not gay" was PERFECT.jirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14111124422666528584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-70131315713941629512009-05-05T22:13:00.000-04:002009-05-05T22:13:00.000-04:00After a family member was taken off the ventilator...After a family member was taken off the ventilator having spent four days in the hospital following a stroke, his dogs at home went nuts barking and jumping. It was no surprise that they were his first stop.<br /><br />Know that Paul was having the last laugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-29437119255457659542009-05-05T16:30:00.000-04:002009-05-05T16:30:00.000-04:00This is incredible writing and a profoundly touchi...This is incredible writing and a profoundly touching memoir. I am sorry to hear about your friend and I hope that your writing continues to immortalize your relationship with him. And by relationship, I'm not inferring that you're gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.paul bitzanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305722333801535098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-51448837843355901132009-05-05T16:19:00.000-04:002009-05-05T16:19:00.000-04:00Sweet and funny. I've been watching video from ano...Sweet and funny. I've been watching video from another funeral half the day today, pleased and touched to see how people celebrated this man's life. Your post hit just the right note with me.Rachelhttp://rsuddeth.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-6390217196621493422009-05-05T12:25:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:25:00.000-04:00Paul gave you the answer he promised you. He'll a...Paul gave you the answer he promised you. He'll always be there laughing with you.<br /><br />And no, it doesn't get easier, but you do learn to survive it.<br /><br />;) Keep smiling, cause Paul would want you to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-68217510530111315412009-05-05T09:59:00.000-04:002009-05-05T09:59:00.000-04:00Aw, sometimes a little levity is just what's neede...Aw, sometimes a little levity is just what's needed at a funeral. My best friend was in the unenviable position of planning her own funeral, including the music. I was barely holding my shit together before the service, knowing that each song I was hearing meant so much to her ... and then the B52s "Love Shack" came on and I knew somewhere she was laughing her ass off.<br /><br />That was 15 years ago and I still miss her. People tell you it gets better but for me it hasn't. It's just gotten different, not better. Don't let anyone tell you you need to "get over it" because you probably won't. But you WILL survive it. Because I'm betting he'd want you to.<br /><br />And again, I'm very sorry for your loss, and for his other friends and family.Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08612452005428621885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-54972531906569263972009-05-05T08:19:00.000-04:002009-05-05T08:19:00.000-04:00I'd say you just got a supporting facts for the "a...I'd say you just got a supporting facts for the "afterlife" theory right there. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing this.Badass Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01030944236271663794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-84676246350621885992009-05-04T20:32:00.000-04:002009-05-04T20:32:00.000-04:00Awesome - the story, the song, the laughs, and the...Awesome - the story, the song, the laughs, and the music. Also, I appreciate the tip on the Rush song. I'm going to go look it up right now!kcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-29225772862746903552009-05-04T20:00:00.000-04:002009-05-04T20:00:00.000-04:00Now how weird is that? Why are bedrooms firm favou...Now how weird is that? Why are bedrooms firm favourites with spirits of passed loved ones? And light bulbs blowing... have you had any of those? I replaced practically the full house when my hubby died. Ironic thing is....so did most of his freinds and family!<br />And NOT GAY huh? But he was in your bedroom? Hmmmm, coincidence or are you not telling us something? lol.<br /><br />Brightest Blessings J,<br />Sue xSue Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600985105373472577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-1441078627574582922009-05-04T18:54:00.000-04:002009-05-04T18:54:00.000-04:00wow...loved the story and got chills (and a smile)...wow...loved the story and got chills (and a smile) when you said that the music box played! (did i say "wow"??)<br /><br />love the seinfeld reference! <br /><br />:)alisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04464661685483442433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-10800534340516350392009-05-04T14:53:00.000-04:002009-05-04T14:53:00.000-04:00When my father passed away he was cremated - and h...When my father passed away he was cremated - and his ashes scattered from a yacht in Newport, R.I. <br /><br />There were a number of things that made this hilarious: a) the yacht was called "The Pearl Necklace." b) when my sister Hazel (yeah, I know...sister hazel), got up to consign her portion of my father to his watery grave, she paused at the railing of the boat with the urn and said, "now I forget. Is it one cup, or two?"Nessa Happenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454080363207458241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-28996246015283867772009-05-04T12:32:00.000-04:002009-05-04T12:32:00.000-04:00Welcome back JVWelcome back JVBeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08938740643000456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-69714574498217062982009-05-04T11:39:00.000-04:002009-05-04T11:39:00.000-04:00Thanks for sharing. Made me laugh and cry. Good ...Thanks for sharing. Made me laugh and cry. Good to "see" you again.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01216580106264628759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-47358818551740126062009-05-04T11:27:00.000-04:002009-05-04T11:27:00.000-04:00I know this will sound bizarre coming from a compl...I know this will sound bizarre coming from a complete stranger but I missed you while you were gone! :D I enjoy your blog so much!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with the blogsphere. And as for the music box...It sounds like your friend was keeping up his end of the deal! <br /><br />Take care JV.Jacquie Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17076432422815814086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-29386294798018424032009-05-04T09:41:00.000-04:002009-05-04T09:41:00.000-04:00As long as Paul's wife was laughing and you know P...As long as Paul's wife was laughing and you know Paul was laughing, don't worry about the stodgy relatives.<br /><br />As for the music box, it was just Paul saying hello. Glad he could get a message to you! [I'm not a big believer in stuff like that, but I've had a few things happen that make me believe that people can come to you if they (and you) really want to.]Cheryl S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-1570890248328196662009-05-04T08:44:00.000-04:002009-05-04T08:44:00.000-04:00lmao....great comeback but you seem to be the type...lmao....great comeback but you seem to be the type able to do that. And tho I'm not a 'practicing' anything, I do believe those who we loved are always near....to this day, I sometimes smell my Mom's perfume *actually, it's her hairspray - Adorn lmao*.... comforting just the same.debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-33733912752765049862009-05-04T07:36:00.000-04:002009-05-04T07:36:00.000-04:00awesome!awesome!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10155420.post-55139404909058622272009-05-04T04:56:00.000-04:002009-05-04T04:56:00.000-04:00When I was a child I knew there was something on t...When I was a child I knew there was something on the other side. I used to have experiences and see things that freaked my Mom out.<br />Then as I got older and more "worldly" and educated, I stopped believing in anything but this life. After my mother died she came to me and said "you don't really need ME, you just need to know someone is behind you". I work in healthcare and have many folks tell me about their near death experiences and I've had some inexplicable things occur as I've gotten older and friends have passed. Paul is there for you and you will see him again. Thanks for the wonderful blog!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11231631153699413550noreply@blogger.com