I received word earlier today (Saturday) that a friend of mine, Doug, had passed on this morning.
I have not communicated with his family yet, this news came to me from a mutual acquaintance.

I met Doug through an online RPG I used to play. He was the owner and to most, a pretty ferocious
kind of guy. He seemed austere, but I got to know the real man behind the mask.

He was a good husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. I have no words to express how much I
will miss him.

He wouldn't be able to sleep at night sometimes, and would log online looking for me. Being a night
person, and one whose job hours kept me up nights anyhow, I was around. We would talk, or rather
he would talk/confide, something he didn't do much of in his daily routine with many, with the exception
of his life-partner, his fantastic wife, Karen. He would say of her, "We've got each others' back," and he
meant it. She as well as his two daughters were everything to him and he would do anything for them.

His wife worked the evening shift so he played "Mr. Mom" while she was gone. Then when his
daughters were safely tucked in, he would talk to me. We would talk of problems in life he had to
endure as well as spiritual crises he faced, and being that I am the off-spring of a minister, I took
his problems there.

He became acquainted with my Rev. through this and a bond grew between them as well. He even
mentioned repeatedly how he wanted to come out here for a visit and attend one of her services.
You see, Doug's parents were also active in the ministry and we found many things in our past that
were similar.

Sometimes he would share stories of things he had to go through as a child/teen/young man which were
major events that formed the man he became today. I listened with interest, some of them I still have
saved from logs of the IMs we exchanged. They are excellent but bittersweet memories right now.
By the way, when his wife would get home after her shift was over he would bolt from the MUD to
greet her. I used to tell him he was a lucky man to have someone to come home to him and he would
heartily agree. Then he would brotherly bearhug me and poof! With a wave, he was gone.

We became buds and I came to respect him.
... He called me his friend, even though at times he told me I was as close to him as any brother could
be. I shared that sentiment.

We never met face-to-face, although we spoke many times but now I will never get the chance to
shake my friend's hand or hang out with him again.

His loving wife, Karen, two daughters, a brother, sister, nephews, nieces and many friends survive him.
I, personally, will remember them often and send a few up for them.

God bless you Doug, I will miss you lots.

3/12/2007
- Blazeman -