Shades of Nascarmann...

shack
shack Posts: 11,154
edited February 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
Normally I would not be posting at this time but because I was reminded of Shane Mann and how fragile this life of ours can be I thought I might share this with you.

I got a terrible call that very much like Shane, my best friend of 37 years died suddenly of a massive heart attack. It was over in seconds. Thin as a rail and never smoked. Go figure. We have been friends since our youth. He was my classmate in high school and college, we were teamates, he was my adversary, my advocate, my collegue, my drinking buddy, my golf buddy, the god father of my daughters, my attorney... but most of all he was my best friend.

Where will I find another democrat that I can tell him how full of crap he was for supporting Clinton and Gore and he the same to me about Reagan and Bush... and still be friends?

Where will I find another avid University of Tennessee fan to argue with?

I always beat him in golf and he didn't really mind.

We used to get drunk (and yes..stoned together) way back when.

We were in love (or infatuation as the case may be) with the same girl (at least twice) and neither of us married them.

He could beat me in cards most of the time.

He let me drive his Porsche (as hard and fast as I wanted).

He was probably smarter than me (just a little - but I never let him know I thought that).

He still owes me a round of golf because I beat him in last years NCAA Basketball pool. And I owe him one because he beat me this year....I want to collect...and I want to pay up.

There are a lot of memories in those 37 years.

I'm going to spend the next couple of hours listening to the Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and U2 in his honor. Maybe knock down a cold one and remember the good times.

Please remember his wife, Libby, in your prayers. They had no children to help her through this time. Say a prayer for his mother, Mary. She has already outlived her husband and her oldest son.

It is hard to type and cry.

James A. Matlock, Jr. (1953 - 2003)

My best friend.

Oh God...I will miss him.
"Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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Comments

  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2003
    I'm very sorry for your loss. This post alone is a great testament to what sounded like a GREAT man.

    Anything we can do, say the word.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited April 2003
    I'm sorry for your loss shack. Your friend and family are in my prayers.

    Henry
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    Shack,
    I'm so sorry man.I can't even begin to say I understand.If my best friend died,I would feel so empty.....

    Death is a part of life,yeat when it happens it still hurts like hell.We all know we will die one day......hard to except.My uncle died a few years ago.I was in shock.We where very close.He got me on stage for my very first gig as a guitar player in a rock band,his.I was only 12 years old.I still think about him from time to time.I miss him.
    I'm sure you know but It gets easier with time.I hope you'll be ok.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2003
    shack,

    very sorry to hear about your best friend and buddy. It's sad to know that some people are taken from us before their time.
    WHY is all we can ever ask ourselves. No one has the answer.

    You are lucky to have had him as a life long friend of 37 yrs. Remember those good times and think fondly of him when you do. You'll see him again some day, and this time apart is just but a mere departure.

    Bless you and his family, and most of all your buddy for life.

    Al
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited April 2003
    Sorry to hear about your friend. It will take time to get over it and then a few years later you realize you still haven't. Our prayers are with you. At least we know he had a really good friend.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    Shack,
    Very sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • dthomps
    dthomps Posts: 352
    edited April 2003
    Can't really say more than what the other guys have said, just that I am right there with you. I just lost my best friend of 6 years to cancer, nothing compared to your friendship but I am only 19 as was she. A really hard thing to go through... I will keep you and his family in my prayers. Sorry bro.
    Mike
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  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited April 2003
    I have no words Shack, except that I am sorry to hear. His wife will be in our family prayers.


    Peace Out~:D
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
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  • avelanchefan
    avelanchefan Posts: 2,401
    edited April 2003
    Shack,

    I must say that was a very well written tribute to your friend. I am sorry to hear of your loss of your best friend.
    Sean
    XboxLive--->avelanchefan
    PSN---->Floppa
    http://card.mygamercard.net/avelanchefan.png
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  • hotwheelman
    hotwheelman Posts: 1,300
    edited April 2003
    Shack,

    My best friends mother just recently passed away and she was like a mom to me, I could talk to her about anything and she would give her best advice to me just as she did for her only son.
    My biggest regret is that I had not been around very much lately to visit her, she was in the hospital for surgery and didn't pull through and as a result I did not get to say how much she meant to me or even say goodbye for the last time. I guess what I am trying to say is that I now the circumstances are not the same but that I can relate very much and I know how much it hurts inside.

    My heart felt sympathy and prayers go out to you here in east tn., and for your best friends wife as well, as I know this will be a trying time for her and for you. You take care and if you ever need anything just a stones throw up the road friend.


    God bless,
    Mike
    "Its worked so far but we're not out yet."
    "Hey big man let me hold a dollar"
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by hotwheelman
    ....as a result I did not get to say how much she meant to me...

    Mike, rest easy brotha. I'm willing to bet she knows, and is smiling down on you.

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • hotwheelman
    hotwheelman Posts: 1,300
    edited April 2003
    Your probably are correct on that one russ, I would say you are. Thanks for the sentiments russ.

    Cheers,
    Mike
    "Its worked so far but we're not out yet."
    "Hey big man let me hold a dollar"
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited April 2003
    Thank you for all of your kind words and prayers. Even though we have never met in person I can tell that you all are sincere and that means a lot.

    My thoughts were meant to be a tribute to my friend Jim. Everyone needs a friend like him at sometime in their life.

    The next couple of days will be hard on everyone. Tomorrow night is the receiving of friends at the funeral home and Wed. morning is the Mass and Graveside service. Fortunately this is the first time I have been asked to to serve as a paulbearer.

    Thanks again to all for your thoughts, prayers and offers of assistance. They will help me get through this difficult time.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited April 2003
    shack,

    Let me add my condolences to those above. Simply did not see this earlier and now, unfortunately, I have an answer to the question I raised over in RnR PPPP concerning your whereabouts.

    Take care...
    Tour
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,755
    edited April 2003
    shack,

    I'm sorry for your loss. To remain friends for that long is special, be thankful for all that was shared.

    F1
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • joe6pak
    joe6pak Posts: 267
    edited April 2003
    shack.

    I just read this post. Sorry to hear about your loss. I know from experience how hard this is for you. I lost my best friend 12 years ago to a car wreck, & last November another very good friend left me the same way.

    Your post was a very nice tribute to your friend James. Don't stay away from your friends on this forum too long. This place can be a helpful diversion while you recover from this awful loss.

    My condolences, joe
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