Posted 4/12/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
A couple of months or so after I joined the forum, Bud sent me an email one day (I guess he got my email address from my profile) praising me for a point I had made in a post I had submitted. (Wasn't it just like Bud to do something like that?). I responded back to him, thanking him for his compliment, and the two of us then got an email correspondence going.
It was a very rewarding correspondence, with the two of us talking about lots of things. We talked about PCa of course, but we also talked about other topics that were being discussed on the forum, our times in the military (we were both vets), and sometimes about just life in general. A few times we even talked about people on the forum, and every time we did he was always courteous, respectful and positive about everyone.
When Bud left us I decided to keep the emails that he and I had exchanged and I moved them into a folder on my hard drive.
So when SpecialLady started this memorial birthday wish thread for Bud, I called up my folder of these old emails with Bud and read through them again. In doing so I read through a few lines in some of them that were so typical of Bud's warmth, charm, humanity and helpfulness that I made a decision to do something.
What I decided to do was to share with the forum some of these words from Bud which, while originally spoken to me, were deserving to be shared with all of you.
I don't consider this to be any kind of breach of confidence with Bud. If anything, I genuinely believe he would approve of this sharing, as if it were "one last post" from him. Right, Bud?
Therefore, here they are, a few more, final, moving, words from our fine departed brother:
(On forum brothers and sisters):
When they have a success – I cheer and am very happy. When times are tough for them – well I feel that also. When I first joined, I was really scared – but the number of people who reached out to me – was a huge comfort during a really hard time in my life. I decided shortly after I finally got on my feet per say that I would do everything I could to try my best to comfort people and be a positive force. A simple hug – I think – can really make a difference for folks who are scared.
(his modesty):
I’m just a guy trying to be positive as I can. I do appreciate people saying I’m the "Heart" of this forum – also a bit embarrassing as I know they are so many people more deserving.
(his motto):
When I first joined HW I was really one scared guy – as so many of us are. So many people reached out with information and encouragement – I decided than I would give back in any ways I could. Over the years (I joined in 7/2011) I’ve been really blessed to have so many of our HW family reach out with email and phone calls. People just seem to know when I’m ‘down’. "We will beat this crap" actually started during a thread where nhwife, Southern Comfort, Zimac and someone else were all on the Taxotere treatment. It was a beautiful thread in the way the sisters supported each other. I knew nothing about the treatment but would chime in to the thread every day to offer hugs and whatever I knew. I started “We will beat this” crap and so many others adopted it. Hence I continue to use in my sign off. Sometimes – a simple hug really makes a person’s day.
Simple thoughts, but all of them so touching, as was Bud's manner and thoughtfulness.
My mom used to talk about what she called the "golden people" in the world. Bud was that kind of person for sure.
Rest in peace, dear friend.