Not To Be Taken Away

[Stuart Pittman <stoo@xxxxxxx>]

Brothers and sisters,

I really feel the need to pour out...

I get the list by digest and the one that contained the
original announcement arrived just before I was about
to leave work. I recognized Marc's e-mail address and
had dealt with him in the past for a trade so I knew
that this couldn't have been a joke. The digest ended
with his "it IS true" post so I was instantly worried.
I scoured the net for some confirmation to no avail.

Before long I jumped into the car and switched on Montreal's
classic rock station, CHOM. The very first sounds that came
through were the words "...in Las Vegas today". I knew right
away that the news was true.

While racing home, the station played Who song after Who
song and listening to them was very, *very* difficult.
I was in tears and eventually had to pull over at one point.
Why? Why? I thought I was prepared for this type of thing
happening some day but I suppose I was wrong.

Upon arriving home I found a waiting message from a fellow
O&Ser but immediately threw on some videos of John. His
appearance on "The Rick Wakeman Show" has always been a pet
favourite of mine so I just had to watch it. (During one
song with the house band, he delivered a lengthy, blistering
solo that I just cannot get enough of. I wish you all could
see it). About to put on the "Bass Guitar Master Class" video,
I succumbed to the overwhelming urge to talk with fellow Who
fans from the list and spent a large part of the evening on
the phone. It was the right thing to do as they, and I, needed
and welcomed the calls.

My girlfriend (who does not share my enthusiasm for The Who
in any way at all) has, so far, been wonderfully understanding
and supportive about the whole thing. She reminded me that
I should consider myself blessed to have met the man 3 times, 
got autographs/photos with him, seen him play at so many shows
and that we still have his music to listen to.

Reading everyone's thoughts and feelings now is the only thing
helping me realize that this is real. Certain words have been 
so heartfelt, so beautiful and honest that they have moved me
to tears. I also want to thank all the lurkers for coming forward
and chiming in. We each need all the comfort we can get to cope
with this staggering event. He will *always* live in us.

We indeed have lost a friend/family member and things will 
never be the same again. I'm not afraid to say that I've
cried quite a lot over this and it's far from over.

"I can't even ring him 'cause he isn't on the phone",
Sad Stoo

P.S. To all of John's family & friends, I give my heart and soul.