Posted by Ronnie Grubbs Jr (64.12.116.139) on February 05, 2005 at 01:54:16:
In Reply to: The Long Good Bye posted by Tony I. (Blue Dragon) on February 02, 2005 at 22:26:07:
Tony, My Heart goes out to you and your Soul mate "Mike" believe me, I am of the same "family" If you get my drift...
This really sucks when life has to wind down like this and the others left behind part of us die inside too...
Ive had to use my 64 Cadillac Hearse at the time (1985)to take an Army buddie,s body to the Airport in Hawaii, it was probaly the hardest thing Ive done at that time... hell, we use to load up the hearse with a bunch of guys from my hanger & take off for North shore 2 and 3 times a month and go body surfing and hang out for the day.... It was our Beach cruiser but then, I was leaving for the Mainland to visit My family for 2 weeks in California... I asked My friend "James" If he would watch over my 2 cars till I returned to the Island. He was excited and said sure!!!!! and we both staired at the Hearse from across the parking lot and he said to me.. "HEY GRUBBS" you gotta promise me when I die, you gotta take me in your Hearse to my Funeral!!! I laughed! and said, hell, I might be dead by then.... When i returned back to Oahu 2 weeks later, I found out the "James" was in a serious motorcycle accident and in the hospital. later that nite, He died.... I cried my head off, He was my friend, a co-worker, a person.... Then I remembered the last time we spoken, it was about his Funeral.... I was granted Permission from his family in Texas and the Army mortuary to take him with a Military escort to the Honolulu Int Airport in my hearse, "the beach cruiser" Our favorite tape we about wore the hell out of every time we hit the road was "DEFF LEPPARD" PYROMANIA He loved the song, I think its called "PHOTOGRAPH" I had a FREAKIN kick ass hard pounding Concord stereo in my Hearse. I told the mortician who rode in my Hearse, Im gonna play this tape "loud" for James, He said "go for it" I cranked it up for James... There were 3 other close friends vehicles that followed behind me.W
when we arrived at the Airport Cargo dept, James,es friends all came running up to the hearse and said that music was soooo loud they could hear it from there cars and they loved it and they could picture James rockin out in the casket... for me, I felt good inside but at the same time, i was shakin and crying and trying to drive. Later that day, I thought I love my Hearse, I love my friends and that will never change.... I have no regrets of taking care of him. yes, death does hurt, it really freakin hurts when its someone close to you, family, spouses, lovers and friends, its not easy... My Sympathy goes out to you Tony..... Ronnie G. Long Beach Cali USA