Sorry I have not blogged lately, thing have been difficult to say the least. I did much worse on my modern physics exam than I should have today because I have been too preoccupied with other things. Fighting with financial aid, too many courses, too much work and all of life's other BS... Then yesterday...
Yesterday was, to say the least, a bad day. My day started with an e-mail which read...
Some sad news to pass along. I just learned that John Cooper who was active in the
early 80's passed away yesterday. Not sure of the cause of death or details of the funeral. As soon as I find out the details, I'll pass that along. Many of you know that both his brothers Jim and Gus are also TKE's.
Being my nature, it did not first apear to hit me. I subconsciously made sure I got on the bike and biked for two straight hours when at work. Basically the foul mood just stared... I should have spent more time studying but the other needs outweighed that. I pedaled hard and continuously for two and a half hours... It worked yesterday but now I am a wreck.
I am not going to claim that John and I were the tightest and best of buddies. We were not. We were Brothers in the same Chapter and Fraternity at the same time however. We served in the military together, went to the same college, went to the bars together, lived in the same house and we were both 39 years old... WTF more do you need? I am in some serious emotional pain right now.
John was a great guy and will be well received at the "Chapter Eternal".
It took a good 24 hours but it really hit me... I am bawling. I am VERY much struggling to write this...
This is a classic example of life not being fair. John, JC to me, a nickname I tied to dub on him which never stuck, was just 39 years old. This, despite the fact that it does, simply should not happen.
Let me tell you about John. When I lived at the house, originally, John was the "pimp" king. I do not think anyone could count the number of times he woke up to marker on his face or various other pimps.... but that is not how I remember John.
I remember John as such. There was this one year when we were both getting ready for our National Guard Summer Camp. We both knew we were going at the same time but had very differnt jobs. I was a medic and John was a Cavalry Officer. I remeber John saying "See you at Camp."
I replied "I hope not." This seemed natural since I was a Medic and I am the last dude you would wish to see. John simply smiled. It was his smile, wholehearted sincere and genuine... entirely his.
Several days later I did encounter John. He was among the "incoming". To be honest, I can not even recall what his injury or problem was. All I remeber is that he looked like shit rolled over twice and re-heated three times. I have seen so many injuries and mishaps that it is simply too tough to recall. I think it was a track accident. Regardless he looked ugly and bad....
The rest went like this;
I said "Hey"
He said "I told you I'd see you" and then he smiled, just as sincere as "JC" ever did...
Just as optimistic as he always was, always will be and more sincere then any human being I have ever had the pleasure to know. That is how I will always remeber John.
Regardless of what life gave John, he simply drove on. Again I do not profess to be one of John's tightest buddies but I, sincerely, can not recall any time in which John griped or complained about the cards Fate dealt him. He simply kept a positive spirit and drove on...
I wish and desire I could do the same as well as he did...
Frater John Cooper, I beg of you to bargain, on my behalf, for a reception, much less deserved than your's, for a reception into the "Chapter Eternal" as grand as the one you have just received... Brother Eternal, I shall miss you and long the day I am to be again in the grace of your presence.
YITB
DE 694
PS
This is a very tough thing to say , for a "macho/tough guy male" but, with all due respect, honesty and sincerity...
I love you and you made a real difference in my life. You did so in the the best way any human could hope for... By simply being yourself.
