Sitting on the porch, watching the storms roll in...

[TGO David]

While we were offline today for our Moment of Silence, I did a little introspective thinking. The sort of thinking that our buddy Marswolf did while sitting on the porch, watching the storms roll in.

One of the things I thought about was the obvious observation of how fleeting life can be. It seems that one minute someone is here, and the next minute they are gone. Pretty unfair, yes. But also it impacted me how important it is to treat each other with respect when we do interact.

Looking back, I can see a few things that stood out as signs that Mars may have been up to something. It stretches back over the past year, actually, as he began selling and giving away various militaria, firearms, etc. claiming that he was just trying to clear out some things he didn't need anymore. More recently than that, he posted a thread searching for songs with religious intonations but that were not overtly religious in nature. Mars always liked to say that he was a true heathen, a proud Methodist. But he also had a fairly different view of God and rarely talked much about it. It would almost seem that his search for music with covertly religious messages might have been part of him reconciling himself to God.

Ultimately, I wish I had taken the time to check on him more. I wrote off his increasing distance from the forum as just him being busy with work or whatever. I just didn't see it for what it was evolving into.

So I'm left with the realization that we never know where a person might be in their life or what problems they may be dealing with. A kind smile from a stranger on the street might lift their spirits significantly. But a harsh word from a stranger on the Internet may crush them completely.

That being said, I've decided to take something positive away from this. I'm going to do my best to think twice before snapping at people out of frustration. Mars once told me that he had a happier life when he learned to let go of the things that were beyond his control. I wish he were here now to see that I'm going to take that to heart.

To those of you that I've been curt with in the past for silly things here on TGO, I apologize. I hope that you'll forgive my brashness.

Now, I wonder what else I can learn the next time the storms roll through. I'm anxious for it to happen. I look forward to sitting on the porch, feeling the wind, listening to the rain. When it happens, I'll lift a glass to toast my friend Shannon and thank him for lessons learned. Even if they were learned a little too late.

[ShaunM]

Wow very well said, it does make you think about life and how we sometimes take it for granted. Thats the one thing I love about this forum, I feel like I have known all of you for a very long time. I am very happy to be a part of TGO and to have talked, read posts,etc. from Mars and all of you. Thanks again.

[Daniel]

You are trying to make me cry today.

[DavidD]

I cannot think of any better way to honor a friend or love one than to take from them lessons such as this. Though Mars' passing is obviously difficult for you, some good as already come of it. I'm sure he's chuckling with pride right now.

[saintsfanbrian]

Nah, he found out there are only two guns in heaven - the 1911 and a Glock.

Seriously though, I agree and will probably sit on the back porch tonight and watch the kids play and think of how wonderful I have it.

Might even drink a scotch in his honor.

[TripleDigitRide]

I'm not even sure that I ever responded to a post made by Mars, or he mine, but his situation has really forced me to think about issues I've been going through in my personal life, and the struggles we/I face on a daily basis.

With the way in which he decided to go, I can only imagine what was going through his mind in the short while before he made than final decision. I wonder if talking with someone would have made him rethink his decision.

As I said, I'm not even sure if Mars and I ever conversed, but he has really reached out and touched me in one way, shape or form.

[Fallguy]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts....

[Guest db99wj]

As I mentioned in another post, we had conversations in public and in PM's. I always looked for his post, just to see what he had to say, didn't matter if I had an interest in the topic or not. I hate this. He would tell you what he thought, without reservation, and you always knew, whether you agreed or not, his comment was well thought out and he had his reasons. We have lost a great one.

[creeky]

I always looked for his post, just to see what he had to say, didn't matter if I had an interest in the topic or not.

You ain't alone there friend.

[Guest jwp]

Great post.

I salute you with my Opus X.

[Guest clutepc]

Great Post,!!

I have a lot of things that remind me of people in my life that have passed

Two of them that will always remind me of Mars..

1:Every time I see the storms rolling in...

2:Every time I pull the trigger on a Glock....

It is strange how we can go through life and never meet someone face to face but when they pass you feel like you've lost someone in the family..

He'll be missed ......

[deerslayer]

But a harsh word from a stranger on the Internet may crush them completely.

That being said, I've decided to take something positive away from this. I'm going to do my best to think twice before snapping at people out of frustration. Mars once told me that he had a happier life when he learned to let go of the things that were beyond his control. I wish he were here now to see that I'm going to take that to heart.

To those of you that I've been curt with in the past for silly things here on TGO, I apologize. I hope that you'll forgive my brashness.

+1

I probably smart off more than the average TGOer when provoked. More than once, I've speculated that Mars would get out the KY and Viagra every time he read about some clueless cop shooting himself in the ass with a Glock. It was intended to be a harmless jab at his age, but I wish I could take back some of those comments. You never what your words will do. I should probably tone it down, too.

On the other hand, I think Mars would scoff if he heard all this talk about polite, courteous posts. Maybe, in his memory, we should continue posting like there are "commies coming over the berm."

Edited September 24, 2008 by deerslayer

[towerclimber37]

Nice.

[Guest canynracer]

Well said Tungsten.

I always enjoyed reflecting on things Mars wrote, I would find myself reading and picturing the scene he was wrinting in. I have learned alot, and I will continue to learn from others here.

I too have decided to be nicer, not just in the forum, but in general. I am going to make it a point going forward to have a positive outlook, and slow down to take in the small things I take for granted everyday.

Edited September 24, 2008 by canynracer

[Almond27]

Wow there is some great stuff for me to read in this Post Thanks Tungsten and others for helping me with just these posts

[BigPoppa]

Excellent post, Tungsten. Thanks.

It would almost seem that his search for music with covertly religious messages might have been part of him reconciling himself to God.

I don't want to start a whole thing here on this aspect of it, but I've thought about this a lot the last couple of days. I hope what you said above is right.

[Volzfan]

Excellent post, Tungsten. Thanks.

I don't want to start a whole thing here on this aspect of it, but I've thought about this a lot the last couple of days. I hope what you said above is right.

+1

Great post Tungsten!