You know, a lot of you people really drive me up the wall.

[WilliamPitt]

I know 95% of you only as screen names, but despite that so many of you have the capacity to make me chew on the inside of my cheeks until I'm spitting blood on the keyboard. To Hell with these people, I've said more than once. Who needs this aggravation? I can just go play in traffic and have done with it.

...and then a member like JeffR passes away, and the needle screeches off the record, and I remember how much joy and solace and humor and education I have found in this place, because of people like him. I only knew him as a screen name, but the news of his loss hit me like a blow. That was the measure of the man; he made that large an impact on someone he never laid eyes on, because of the excellent force of his presence.

You people drive me crazy. I love you so much.

That's family, I guess.

To NanceGreggs and everyone else feeling this loss most keenly, you are most tenderly in my thoughts.

Here's to you, Jeff. Safe travels and following seas.

[H2O Man]

1. Recommended.

Well said.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Well said, Will.

I have been as sad since his passing as if he had been one of my best friends - because after 10 years together in the Photo Group, he really was.

[Solly Mack]

3. Yeah

K&R

[trumad]

4. feel ya.

[babylonsister]

5. Awww. Hit me like a brick. Such a fine man. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. I hear you, my dear Will...

Omigod, another great person gone. Just GONE.

Just like that.

There has been so much pain of late...

Your post has helped me.

[malaise]

7. Great post

JeffR's death hit me hard - I feel it for Nance and their family - and yes I do love DU and many DUers

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. Agree with you about JeffR.

...and for our sake please do NOT 'play in traffic'

[WilliamPitt]

9. I live on a dirt road in NH

"Traffic" amounts to two cars a day.

I'll be OK.

[hlthe2b]

10. Nice post...

Lots of sadness in life, generally lately on my end as I am sure is the case for many. Yet, JeffR always had the ability to make me smile through bad times with his DUzys.

May he make them smile (and he as well) in the next realm. to Nance and all who loved and enjoyed him.

[leftofcool]

11. We are a family. Family's squabble. Nuf said!

On edit, we are not the Duggars. There is a lot to be said for that.

[Mira]

12. Thank you Will

for putting our feelings into perfect words

[Augiedog]

13. And having writ, moves on....sadly

[joshcryer]

14. If anyone is curious he posted as "Jeff Rosenzweig" here.

Once we made the switch.

[Thespian2]

15. Thanks, Will

Well said...

[The Wizard]

16. Well stated Mr. Pitt

'No Man is an Island'

No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.


Olde English Version
No man is an Iland, intire of itselfe; every man
is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine;
if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe
is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as
well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine
owne were; any mans death diminishes me,
because I am involved in Mankinde;
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

MEDITATION XVII
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
John Donne

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. That verse is so perfectly appropriate, my dear Wizard...

I am typing through my tears...

Thank you.

[Pooka Fey]

19. What a beautiful poem.

John Donne, how very moving.

[eppur_se_muova]

26. Thanks for posting that in its entirety.

Only the beginning and end are ever heard; the whole provokes a more profound reaction.

[Pooka Fey]

18. K&R

So many beautiful and moving tributes to JeffR. I wish I could have known him.
May he Rest in Peace.

[DFW]

20. I may have done my share of wall-driving

But then every now and then something comes along to remind us all that there are bigger issues than walls climbed and descended.

[Peacetrain]

21. Well said Mr. Pitt.. well said

[Moostache]

22. Mortality stalks us all, and those who fall are born along by those who remain...

The influence and contributions - the thoughts and laughs and exacerbations, the tears and anger, the love and friendship - the very things that make this thing we call 'life' worth living...those things are untouchable in our inevitable passing. They amplify and echo in the minds and hearts of all we touch along the way, like ripples in a pond, affecting those we never meet as well.

Vaya con dios to those we have lost along the journey, raise a glass, make a toast and remember them well until we meet again in the thoughts and minds of those who go on and on for another day.

[locks]

23. Thank you Will

We need to remember that many who make DU an interesting place are going through hard times and real suffering and do not tell us or ask for sympathy.

[DonCoquixote]

24. I used to think that people I knew in cyber

were less important than people I knew in flesh, but then I realized that some in cyber were a lot more capable of listening to, and communicating with, me.

[Duval]

25. Thanks, WRP. nt

[GoneOffShore]

27. Thanks Will.

[NanceGreggs]

28. Thanks, Will ...

I hope people here have noticed that my "known political enemies" on DU were among the first to express their condolences upon hearing of Jeff's passing.

As you and I have discussed in recent PMs, hating what someone says on a message board should never be mistaken for hating the person behind the words.

Politics is a blood sport - and we all get down-'n-dirty when we engage in the game. It is sometimes difficult to maintain perspective - but maintain it we must.

Given mine and Jeff''s personal circumstances, reading DU over the past few weeks has reminded me how insignificant petty squabbles really are - Hillary's pantsuits, Bernie's unkempt hair, my candidate can kick your candidate's ass.

Keep your eye on the prize - a better nation, a better world. Many of us have our differences as to how to get there - but getting there is really all that matters in the end.

[Rex]

29. He is a great guy and will be sorely missed Will.