RIP my dear friend.

[MuseRider]

I came home last night from the AIDS Candlelight Memorial very sad but glad I went to it. My husband met me at the door with the bad news.

Don I knew for only a short time. Last summer he was my stand mate in the Lawrence City Band. He was the former clarinet professor at KU and one heck of a guy. He had some kind of lung disease and was always so very winded by the time he climbed the stairs to the gazebo we play in but he would sit down, take a hit from his inhaler and manage to play circles around all of us. I swear he never hit a wrong note and we never rehearse, just read through the music before we perform yet he nailed the pieces every time.

He was the kind of person I would like to be. Always welcoming, complimentary and so sweet. He would whisper jokes in my ear when we rested. I wanted to know him better. I was so excited going to our first performance this year to see how his winter in Florida was, his golf game, his children but he was not there. Turns out he never made it to Florida. He turned 80 in the hospital and never went home.

I just wanted to write something about him. I am so sad and yet I really barely knew him but some people are so easy to love. RIP Don.

[blm]

1. ((((((((((( ))))))))))))))

.

[MuseRider]

5. Thanks. n/t

[annabanana]

2. Sorry for your loss.

You are right. There are some people who make an indelible impression on us right away. There is a kind of largeness of spirit that is a delight to encounter and it sounds as though your friend had "it" in abundance.

[MuseRider]

Largeness of spirit

is exactly the phrase I was looking for. Yes, that was Don. Thank you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Sorry to hear that

You'll hear him again...some sweet sound will come off a woodwind reminiscent of Don and there he'll be :hug:

[MuseRider]

9. Gary Foster

was his student. The next time he comes through here I will go and think of Don.

[Nite Owl]

4. So sorry

We do need to take in every moment we have here. Sometimes that is so hard with all the battles we are fighting.

[MuseRider]

10. Very true.

I am so glad I had last year to get to know him.

[redqueen]

6. Oh, MR... I'm so sorry...

It sounds like he was a good person... I'm sure he'll be missed by many people. Sending prayers and good thoughts to you, his family and friends...

Hugs,
RQ

[MuseRider]

13. He was.

Also a pretty good Republican (I am assuming) his son worked for Greenspan and Don always seemed pretty conservative but as annabannana said above he had a largeness of spirit and it was a good one.

Thanks.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Hugs to you my dear MuseRider...

Thank you so much for telling us about your wonderful friend...I hope he went easily..What a lovely guy he must have been.

Please take care of yourself during this sad time, my dear...

:hug:


:pals:

[MuseRider]

15. Thanks.

I am really OK just kinda blue. I will feel worse when the band meets again, then it will really sink in.

I have felt less sad losing people I knew better. He was one of a kind.

[ewagner]

8. So sorry to hear this

:hug:

[MuseRider]

19. Thank you.

It somehow just felt right to post about a good human who has passed.

[RevCheesehead]

11. hugs to you, MuseRider

:hug: Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[MuseRider]

20. Thank you.

The hug helps a lot!

[UrbScotty]

12. Here's to all who touch us in such a personal way.

:hug:

[MuseRider]

21. It takes

a special person to make friends so easily. :toast: to those wonderful people.

[DrDebug]

14. Sorry to hear that

Keep his memory alive. RIP Don

[MuseRider]

22. He inspired me

and I am certain we will do a special concert for him. Thanks.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I'm so sorry for your loss...

Making music with someone is like peeking into their soul. It doesn't matter what little you know about them, or even if you remember their name. It's an intimacy that can't be duplicated. I'll bet the next time you play, you'll feel your friend's presence. :hug:

[MuseRider]

24. I will.

It is band music so we are always trying to play your parts on the clarinet and he would look at me before one of those long and fast passages and say, "Meet you on the other side" then grin we we got through it and say, "We did good" and on we would go. Just a sweet man and one heck of a musician. He WAS a good soul and I was lucky enough to be able to peek into it. Nice, thank you.

[Solly Mack]

17. Sorry to hear that, Muse ((((((((((((big hugs))))))))

[MuseRider]

25. Thank you.

Hey, our symphony is playing at the base in Ft. Riley this year. I thought of you instantly. I wish you were still there, we could have had dinner!

[Solly Mack]

26. I hate missing that!

Maybe you all can figure out a way to come here and play for us in Mannheim...ask somebody at Fort Riley...the Post Command there might think it a great idea "for the troops"...you never know. :)

[MuseRider]

27. That would be

fun! It is a Christmas USO show. ICK, but the show must go on.

[Solly Mack]

30. Even better. Maybe the USO here can sponsor you guys over?

Couldn't hurt to try. If you PM the info of your group, I'll give it to the USO director here.

Be sure to include your USO show at Fort Riley info.

Ask your group and see if it sounds good to them...a spring concert in Germany? Sounds nice!

[MuseRider]

31. Thanks but there is no way.

We get paid and are professional but everyone has other jobs, such is the market for the symphony in Topeka. We have enough problems getting people out for the occasional run out concert. God it would be fun though.

[Solly Mack]

33. Oh well..it was thought

:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Oh Muse

I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

[MuseRider]

28. Thanks. I will miss

the gathering but there will be others. I will miss you all this month though, I was looking forward to it.

[bobthedrummer]

23. He will always be with you, nice tribute to a fellow musician.

:hug:

[MuseRider]

29. I learned a lot

from him just sitting next to him. We will all miss him, he was so generous.

[deadparrot]

32. May he be at peace.

So sorry for your loss.

:hug:

[MuseRider]

36. Thank you.

He was a good guy.

[In_The_Wind]

34. Be at peace Don

Thank you for coming into the Lounge to share your pain over the loss :hug: of a man who sounds like he was a wonderful person.

[MuseRider]

37. Thank you.

It made me feel better to put something down and share it.

[In_The_Wind]

39. It is a useful part of the healing process.

:pals: :hug:

[EvolvedChimp]

35. That was very sweet

I'm sure he's somewhere now smiling at the words you so elegantly wrote.

[MuseRider]

38. I had not thought

of it that way. Gosh, I do hope so. I know he knew I adored him but I never really told him. Thank you.

[Bossy Monkey]

40. What a guy. Condolences. (Nominated.) nt

[MuseRider]

41. Thank you.

He was, I just wish I had known him longer and better. I talked to some friends a while ago and it seems that even those who knew him less than I did are really upset. The mark of a truly nice and valued guy.