My friend died

TractorLegend · Feb 19, 2006

http://www.kirotv.com/news/7190287/detail.html

life is not fair...he just remarried a month ago and leaves behind 3 boys. I was just at the pub with Dave and Erica about two hours before this tragedy. They are the type of people who welcome everyone and make you feel loved.
Rest in peace Dave.

rox · Feb 19, 2006

TractorLegend,
Big hugs to you over the internet, but I hope you can feel them anyway. I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend. I hope you ahve good people around you at home to help you through this sad time. You also have your friends here on TBN who will listen if you want to say more. Group Hug

Sigarms · Feb 19, 2006

Apologies, I just lost a friend last month.

I am curious and mean no disrespect, but I have to ask, was alcohol involved at all? At that air temp and water temp, you don't have long. I just can't see why someone would go out on the water at that time of night during this time of year.

Again, apologies.

TractorLegend · Feb 19, 2006

Yes we had been drinking...
The water was coold, and yes why would someone canoe in freezing weather?---the dock was behind his house and did this from time to time drinking or not. They found him 40 feet from the dock in 8 foot of water. I think you just go into shock in that cold of water.
Dave really tried to make everyone friends and build people up.
It seems natural to mentally review everyone who would deserve to be at the bottom of a lake and wonder why the kindest people end up victims of tragedy.

Sigarms · Feb 19, 2006

Thanks for the answer.

I saw my gradmother die in front of me in a hospital.

I saw my mother die in front of me in a hospital.

About 30 years apart between my mother and grandmther, for my mom it was real hard becuase I was the one who had to tell the doctors to remover the "tube" (my dad couldn't make that decision). That was hard.

Bewteen those two times, time has gone by in a "blink of an eye".

I realize that before I know it, I will be laying somewhere, ready to end my time on this earth. I know when that time comes, I will be in the same place as my mother and grandmother. That gives me solace.

Not to sound to dreary, but before you know it, you will be in the same place as your friend. All you can do now is have his life in your memory and every once in a while include him in your prayers, and better yet, give him a toast and have a drink on him. You would make him happy I'm sure.

God bless.

TractorLegend · Feb 19, 2006

Thank you for your thoughts Sig and everyone---i think you are right, as we see loved ones pass it gives us validation for our own passing into life ever after. And I also think you are right about Dave---he would want us to remember him happily and positively and toast him.
Here's to you Dave Fritz!

Marlowe · Feb 19, 2006

No, life isn't fair. It seems that the older I get, the more I come to appreciate life, but the more often I need to accept that it is all too fleeting. Live it to the fullest each and every day, for it can be the last. So sorry for your loss. Been there.

Tom

dmccarty · Feb 20, 2006

TractorLegend,

Sorry to hear about the accident.

There is the 50/50 rule of thumb I have heard for cold water survival. If you are 50 feet from shore, the water temp is 50 degrees F or less, you have a 50/50 chance of getting to shore alive. 50 feet is not very far. Also there is a gasp reflex when you head goes under in cold water. Most people will gasp for air when the cold water hits the head with predictable results.

We had a grandfather drown under a bridge I drive over twice a day. His grandson was trying to tie the boat to one of the bridges columns and slipped into the water. The grandfather jumped in after his grandson. A man on the shore fishing helped get the grandson out of the water but the grandfather did not make it. He could not have been more than 50 feet from shore. Most likely much closer.

People don't appreciate what cold water can do to you in a hurry. Almost every spring we have a set of drownings where people go swimming because the air temps are in the 70s/80s. The problem is that the water temps are still in the 30s or 40s....

Later,
Dan