Yes, but...
I first met Greg face to face in '06 while traveling with my wife in our motor home. We were traveling near where Greg lived and on a lark I decided to try see him. I had already met Box, Andrew, Tilly and Moffitt and he would be next.
I found Greg's address and phone number in a local phone book. Calling the number was useless as it turned out Greg had given up the land line. So, I drove on to house not sure what I'd find. Karen, who looked upset, answered the door bell. I explained who I was and that I just wanted to say hello to Greg. She told me to wait and she would see if Greg was up from his nap.
After a few minutes Greg came out. I apologized to him for springing up unannounced and suggested we go to the motor home parked across the street. He liked that idea. I cranked up the generator, turned on the A/C, broke out soft drinks and snacks and chatted.
We chatted for 4 hours! Idle chatter at the beginning, but eventually Greg unburdened himself of his family and work problems. It was then that he mentioned that only days before he tried to kill himself by running his car into an overpass abutment at high speed. Thinking about the kids, he had changed his mind at the last moment.
My wife told him how her sister took her life because of marital problems leaving two young sons without a mother. She recalled my words at the time of how wrong it was to apply a "permanent solution" to what was a temporary problem.
In any case, I believe that Greg had rehearsed at least once, what he has done this week.
I will miss Greg not only as a contributor to our IWeThey community, but along with Scott and Mike V a "keeper of the flame".
I found Greg's address and phone number in a local phone book. Calling the number was useless as it turned out Greg had given up the land line. So, I drove on to house not sure what I'd find. Karen, who looked upset, answered the door bell. I explained who I was and that I just wanted to say hello to Greg. She told me to wait and she would see if Greg was up from his nap.
After a few minutes Greg came out. I apologized to him for springing up unannounced and suggested we go to the motor home parked across the street. He liked that idea. I cranked up the generator, turned on the A/C, broke out soft drinks and snacks and chatted.
We chatted for 4 hours! Idle chatter at the beginning, but eventually Greg unburdened himself of his family and work problems. It was then that he mentioned that only days before he tried to kill himself by running his car into an overpass abutment at high speed. Thinking about the kids, he had changed his mind at the last moment.
My wife told him how her sister took her life because of marital problems leaving two young sons without a mother. She recalled my words at the time of how wrong it was to apply a "permanent solution" to what was a temporary problem.
In any case, I believe that Greg had rehearsed at least once, what he has done this week.
I will miss Greg not only as a contributor to our IWeThey community, but along with Scott and Mike V a "keeper of the flame".