Dear Bunker,
Last night I had the chance to go out to dinner with CaliValleyGirl and The Girl. We talked about how much blogs have affected our lives, and I commented on how close you can get to someone you've never met. You were definitely one of the people I meant, because you've left a big footprint in my life. Just before dinner, I picked up that copy of The Federalist Papers that you inspired me to buy, and I thought that I'd like to start reading it but that I'd probably need your help wading through its density. You are still registered as a user on my blog. I just blogged about you on Friday, and I was waiting to talk about what I've finally grokked about medals with you.
It took me an hour just to stop crying after I read Slice's post. Well, that's not true, because I haven't even stopped crying yet, but at least I've calmed down enough to gather myself. I'd give anything to have you back for one more day so I could tell you everything else I want to say, but at least I know that I've already told you the most important things. Last Father's Day, I emailed you and told you that you felt like a second father to me, that I learned from you every day and that I cherished our blog-friendship. This Father's Day you won't be here to hear it again, but I promise I will be thinking of you again on that day. I'm glad I told you once how important you were to me.
There are bloggers like Den Beste or Whittle that I wouldn't even have the guts to talk to. But I would've easily walked up to you and given you a hug. You were a real person in my life, not just somebody I read on the internet.
There's but a handful of people in my life it could hurt this much to lose.
You know, the email you sent me this week meant so much to me, when you told me that it was cool that I was staying home and not worrying about building a career. But you know what? I deleted it. I don't know why I did that. I guess I thought there'd be plenty more emails where that one came from.
I just wish I could write you one more email to tell you how sad I am that we don't have any future together. I was going to make you the chicken lasagna alfredo you were drooling over the other day, maybe in exchange for helping me with The Federalist Papers. I was going to move to Texas and join the Texas Blog Ring you started, and you were going to teach me to enjoy golf. I hate golf, but I was really looking forward to playing with you.
I never met you, but I am going to miss you so much. I cringe at the fact that I had your phone number at the bottom of every email you ever sent to me, yet I never picked up the phone. Luckily though, I have the CD you sent me of your radio spot on the Lago show, so your voice can bring a smile to my face. And the next time I'm in Texas, I'm still going to visit you, even if there won't be any golfing that day.
I love you, Bunker. I'm glad you knew it; I just wish I could've said it before it was too late.
Posted by Sarah at June 5, 2005 10:35 AMSarah,
Mike was very fond of you and your husband as well. Thank you for your kind words. I've asked Rob to keep the blogsite up for a time. I can't say more right now...
Mrs. Bunker
Posted by: ann reed at June 5, 2005 01:02 PMI sent this email to your hotmail address and it was returned. I am glad it did not get to you. I really didnt want to be the first to tell you, but I want you to know what I thought of Mike. My family and I sat around and discussed what a great man he was, he had corresponded with both my husband and me, mainly about education.
Sarah,
I truly hope I am not the first to let you know about this, but you have to know.
I am truly grieved that I did not follow through on friendship with Mike. He encouraged me to blog and I did not. When I saw his last post at Texas Bloggers I was really ashamed, because by then I knew. I know you two had built a friendship and I am truly sorry for your loss, Our loss. I lived only 45 miles from him and when I do serious shopping it is Corpus Christi. And yet.....
Don't do as I did with this, always follow through on friendships. Please forgive me for having to send this.
Blessings on his family. Ruth Hoese
This is from Corpus Christi Bay News blog:
June 3rd, 2005
Very, Very Sad News
I just received a call from Curtis Rock informing me that Mike Reed, the author of Bunker Mulligan and founder of Corpus Christi Bay News and Texas Bloggers, died at work today. The details are rather sketchy at the moment, but I’m waiting to hear back about funeral arrangements and such.
I don’t know what to say. Even though Mike and I spoke many times over the phone and email and even collaborated on a local news blog (Corpus Christi Bay News), I never had the opportunity to meet him in person. I can say that he was an honorable, stand-up guy that I would have been honored to play a round of golf with. My prayers go with his family in their time of grief.
To Mike: may God welcome you into His loving arms.
Posted by: Ruth H at June 5, 2005 03:52 PMSara, What a beautiful letter - thank you for sharing it. I too cried last night and this morning - Mike was such a kind person and easy to 'talk' to.
The great thing about blogging is making friends with similar viewpoints. The bad part is not getting to meet them in person. Mike is one of those I will always regret not meeting.
Posted by: Barb at June 5, 2005 07:08 PMSarah - yes this is a very sad occassion. I know how close you were to Bunker. Life just doesn't seem fair sometimes.
Posted by: toni at June 6, 2005 12:26 AMDamn. He will be missed.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 6, 2005 10:34 AMI saw it on Blackfive's...
I never got over to his place as much as I would've liked, which makes me sad, but I did like him very much. The thing to always remember is that without the internet and without blogging you would never have had the pleasure of "meeting" him and that would have been even more sad.
I like to think of all the people he touched through his blogging and that he will be remembered fondly by so many people around the world. That's a wonderful legacy.
Posted by: Teresa at June 6, 2005 07:46 PMI've been online since the days of 300 baud acoustic modems.... and I've always felt just as bad to lose friends I'd never met as those I grew up with....
I have a number of friends whose only social outlet became the net.. and you don't learn till afterwards that the enemy ace who was your bitter enemy, or the brave warrior by by your side, or the undead demi-goddess.. you'd known for years... had slowly been slipping away.. but wanted nothing more then to be just one of the gang.
I realize that's different then this.. but.. still..
Posted by: LarryConley at June 7, 2005 08:35 AMI still talk to my parents - it's never too late. I'm betting that Bunker knows.
My sister and Aunt (Mom's sister) and I were talking the afternoon after Mom passed away, sharing stories, etc - and we had this funny moment :
Sis : "Mom knows everything now."
Me : "Sure, but it's okay - she forgives everything, too."
Sis : "So now she knows that I have a tattoo!"
*grin*