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Lost former bandmate today,

#21
I'm sorry for your loss. Hard to click "Like" for something like this, other than to say it reflects respect for your bandmate and condolences to you.

I hate the suffering and loneliness that defines death from COVID-19. I hate the frustration of losing someone we care about and being unable to mourn with others who feel that loss. If memorializing her and sharing your loss eases your burden, our time here is well spent.

Stay safe and well.
 
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#22
It's the saddest song I know. There are many versions; I like this one.

I got a letter this morning, how do you reckon it read?
I got a letter this morning, how do you reckon it read?
Come home, come home, cause the one you love is dead.

I packed up my suitcase, I hurried on down the road.
I packed up my suitcase, I hurried on down the road.
Lordy when I got there, lying on the killing floor.

I folded up my arms, and I looked away.
I folded up my arms, and I walked away.
Said I love, love you darling, and I will meet you on Judgment Day.

I'm going down, baby, behind the sun.
Lord I'm going down, behind the sun.
For that is where my troubles all begun.

 
#24
One_Dude said:
Don't mean for this to be a downer, just feel a need to talk about a former bandmate a little.

A former bandmate passed away today; it was not unexpected as she retired from the band about two years ago for health reasons. She was a founding member, a great singer, a terrific song writer, and had a wonderful sense of humor. The band broke up after she retired, and I would usually see her at a local jam twice a month since then. That is until the Covid business started; all gatherings like jams have been cancelled, so it's been several months since I have seen her.

It seems like the stars aligned against her this time; she had a stroke in June, failing kidneys after that, and was diagnosed with Covid about three weeks ago. She finally succumbed to heart failure today. Of course, she was not allowed visitors throughout her decline, and was not really able to talk on the phone either, so there was no chance for contact other than sending cards. There also will not be a funeral service because of the Covid, but probably a memorial at a later date.

I joined a new band almost a year ago that I am really enjoying. Last year we did 41 dates; this year we had 39 scheduled, and have done 3. We continue to practice, so I have been kept busy and distracted with that. I wish there was more we all could have done for her during this time, but it seems like that was just not possible. At least she is no longer suffering, and there is some comfort in that.

Thanks for listening, hold your family and friends close, and PRESS ON!

Thump on,

One_Dude
Click to expand...
Sorry for the loss of your friend. It's been a very tough year for a lot of us it seems. Getting older is not what all it's cracked up to be sometimes. My circle keeps getting smaller.
 
#25
Thanks to everyone for your kind words. Putting down my thoughts in the original post does feel a bit like saying farewell to a friend, in this case a farewell that could not happen in real time due to the pandemic. When I think about the relationships we form with other band members, it's something like a team effort. Everyone working together to provide the best result possible. With shows, rehearsals, load in and load out, meals before and after shows, and sometimes traveling together, we often spend more time with our bandmates than we do with family. And after a number of years together in that way they become an extension of our family.

I know my bandmate would tell us all to forge ahead, and that's what I plan to do. Rehearsal tomorrow night, and a show on the next night. Then on to whatever the future holds.

Thanks again,

Thump on,

One_Dude


P.S.

Zooberwerx said, "Very sorry to hear of your loss".

"Excuse me but what do you consider the Appalachian Wilderness?"

In my case it's in the hills of Southeastern Ohio.
 
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#26
One_Dude said:
Don't mean for this to be a downer, just feel a need to talk about a former bandmate a little.

A former bandmate passed away today; it was not unexpected as she retired from the band about two years ago for health reasons. She was a founding member, a great singer, a terrific song writer, and had a wonderful sense of humor. The band broke up after she retired, and I would usually see her at a local jam twice a month since then. That is until the Covid business started; all gatherings like jams have been cancelled, so it's been several months since I have seen her.

It seems like the stars aligned against her this time; she had a stroke in June, failing kidneys after that, and was diagnosed with Covid about three weeks ago. She finally succumbed to heart failure today. Of course, she was not allowed visitors throughout her decline, and was not really able to talk on the phone either, so there was no chance for contact other than sending cards. There also will not be a funeral service because of the Covid, but probably a memorial at a later date.

I joined a new band almost a year ago that I am really enjoying. Last year we did 41 dates; this year we had 39 scheduled, and have done 3. We continue to practice, so I have been kept busy and distracted with that. I wish there was more we all could have done for her during this time, but it seems like that was just not possible. At least she is no longer suffering, and there is some comfort in that.

Thanks for listening, hold your family and friends close, and PRESS ON!

Thump on,

One_Dude
Click to expand...
Very sorry to hear this. Hope your music brings you some comfort.

2020 has been tough. Practicing alone here in the northwest I find myself leaning pretty heavily on the blues these days. Lost an old friend to covid in May, and many friends and former neighbors are newly homeless in the Santa Cruz mountains amid another California firestorm.

Peace.
 
#29
A consequence of getting older is losing a number of friends and colleagues.
It seems the older I get, the greater the frequency of the losses....
Along with the pain and heartache of they're loss comes the reminder of our own place on the path.
I'm really sorry to hear about your loss, it sounds like you were very lucky to have known her, and be able to remember her as your friend.
Good luck with your new band!
 
#31
Feeling you on this. The drummer in my main project over the last five years - a sweet guy and fine drummer - passed away 6 weeks ago. In his case, heart issues, no Covid. But the net result is the same on contact and mourning. We did a wide range of latin american grooves - he will be very difficult to replace, and in some sense irreplaceable, as a founding member of the band.
 
#38
Sorry to hear this news. My brother-in-law is fighting for his life right now after contracting COVID. It’s not a hoax, it’s not the flu, it’s A very, very serious disease. It presents differently in patients. Some have mild symptoms, some get deathly ill. Healthy people die, and others survive. Please, all of you, take precautions. Take this virus seriously. Don’t be a statistic.
 
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#40
The somewhat odd joy in the loss of a good person in your life is that they were there for what ever amount of time that you had them. That is a blessing that usually takes some time to get to but it is nonetheless waiting beyond the grief. In a three year period of time I lost both my parents; a cousin who mare like an older brother; and my best friend who was also my musical partner of 16 years. Sometimes I am still hit dead on by what I have come to refer to as the freight train of sadness but in the tears I think of how amazing these people were and if not for that I would not be missing them so much. I am sorry you lost someone so special. I am at the same time happy for you that you had someone so special for the time you did.

Prayers for your friend and for you.
 

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