Good morning, Netizens...

Do you know this man? Have you seen this man in the past?

Nearly 25 years ago a personal friend of mine convinced me I should continue writing, and at first (this was well before Community Comment came into being) I wrote fiction and non-fiction which I posted on various Usenet news forums, a few of which I owned/operated outright. Over the years Bob Kirkpatrick and I became the best of friends, and our combined stories can still be found laying around in various places on the Internet. Our friendship, however, has never dimmed over the passage of years.

Unfortunately, Bob is now suffering from myeloma cancer, and has been writing on his blog about that process of dying, as well as his terrible treatment at the hands of the Veterans Hospital here in Spokane. You can read the entire history at http://www.deludia.com/ but a word to the wise, bring a hanky when you sit down. Many are the times I have simply walked away from my workstation in tears of frustration and anger at the manner in which the VA has treated my friend and hero.

His time is growing limited, but he still continues to function at a fairly strong level, even now in the face of nearly-insurmountable pain.

After a great deal of introspection, and because of the years we go back together, I decided I should hold a Gathering in his name while he is still marginally able to participate. However, unlike other Gatherings in the past, this one will be strictly an RSVP event for those who once knew or still remember Bob. This event, which will take place approximately the middle of October, at a restaurant which few would recognize, and dinner will be served. My lovely friends at Cutting Edge Communications and I are springing for the meal, providing you know Bob somewhere in your past.

To attend this event you will need to send an e-mail to dlaird@kharma.net and you will receive instructions as to where and when this event will take place.

We will have tall tales to tell, perhaps laugh a little, perhaps even cry a little, but we will rejoice in Bob's life with us.

Now back to our regularly-scheduled events on this fine Tuesday morning.

Dave

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