My Friend, my Brother, Ricky L...in the Wind at 44, RIP

[The_Hammer]

Today, my friend, my brother Rick L. was T-Boned by a lady in an SUV doing an estimated 60 MPH on a city side street. Ricky died quick. Thank God. I don't even know how to act. Rick and I shat green in the sandbox together. We went all through school together, we even went to the big house together. That aint the point. I don't need to shut the door on my past today. I can smile and say Later my friend, I will see you later. Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard. The sleeping know no pain, it's the living that are scarred. Lilbit, Bobcat, now Ricky too. So much death in a world full of life.

Makes ya see the cycle of life real clear. God lilbit, I am soooo damned sorry for your loss. My heart could burst from the pain. I loved Rick, he was a true hard ridin ironhorse cowboy, just like I always thought I was, Ricky lived it and shows his colors now, off into the sunset. Ricky will ride on now, and I am truly happy for him, he always said he'd die on his sled. Hehe, self fulfilling prophesy, huh? Hundreds of scooter tramps will raise their fists to the skies for Rick tomorrow, myself included. There won't be a dry eye in the house, except for mine. I know Rick wanted me to smile when I thought of him, his body's gone, that's all. There's plenty of time for bein selfish later, when I am in my quiet place alone with God, on my knees for his mother and family. It was hard not to when Mama L. handed me his keys to his Road King. I looked down and smiled.

I know there's a reason for all of this, Laura and Jordie packin their bags even though I am sober as a judge. Lilbit's sweet Dorie dyin the way we all dread to go ourselves. Bobcat mudered a year ago nearly to the month. Sometimes I could just scream at God and ask Him why the good gotta die and all the stinkin evil lives on. 12000 + in China, 100,000 and much more in Myanmar, through the ignorance of egomaniacal Generals. God, grant me the serenity...! To the tune of starvin millions, they stand on pride and arrogance. What the F**k! Sorry, I just can't get it. I aint the sharpest knife in the drawer, just ask Jesse and brother Rarly. What's next? I lose one of you?

These are all stupid and irrlevant questions. People droppin like flies has a way of twisting my thoughts around like that. The monkey tries to get to my shoulder as fast as he can when I grieve for the dead, because I am selfish and wante them back here with me. So, it's with a real heavy heart I surrender Ricky to the wind. I wave farewell to Bobcat, to Dori, and to all in the wind now. I accept their passing as a part of God's eternal plan. Thanks for lettin me vent here yet again. I will accept another 24 hours and move on.

[BillJ]

Prayers continue, Jimmy.

[Freedom1990]

Truth be known, if God had shown up before I went through rehab in '86 and shown me everything I would go through after I got clean and sober, I would have said screw it and just used/drank till I died.

There's a reason we don't know God's plan for each and every one of us.

My faith has been tested more than once in my recovery, and today instead of asking why, I say why not.

I've run on 'blind' faith more than once, when the pain just got so great that all I could do was put one foot in front of the other and go through the motions.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother and friend, and for lilbit's loss too.

It's okay to be selfish and cry because we miss them.

[toad]

Sorry to hear about your friend Ricky L.. My prayers go out to his family and his friends.

Friday I lost a good friend in KC named Ricky J.. Ricky J. and I partied together for many years. We worked together and shared a house for a year in the 70's. Ricky J. was 60 years old and never quit drinking whiskey or smoking tobacco. We talked over the past couple of years about being sober. He wanted what being sober offered, but did not want to give up the effect produced by it. Six months ago he told me he had lung cancer. It was quick. Ricky J. rode a fairly new Truimph 900 Trident. I will miss my friend as you will too hammer.

[Hurricane]

Sorry for your loss Hammer. Monday marked two years since a woman pulled out in front of my friend. Absolute nightmare, but I do Smile when I think of him and I'm Very grateful for the for the six years he shared his recovery with me.
Praying for You and your brothers family.

[sticker]

condolences to you hammer and all of Ricky's loved ones..he went as he live from the sound of it, but all to soon. I understand what your feeling..has been way to many deaths in my life the last couple yrs. All i can do is honor their memory and remember them with love. Many days I ride with them foremost in my mind

[best]

Continue to hang in there Jimmy.

We can honor others by keeping on the sober path.
Seems a year doesn't go by these days that someone I know leaves this earth. Part of it is our age now. Still hurts when we miss them.

Prayers are with you Jimmy

and prayers for us all that have seen friends go before us.

[Jimmy123]

May God protect his loved ones

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

I know there's a reason for all of this, Laura and Jordie packin their bags even though I am sober as a judge. Lilbit's sweet Dorie dyin the way we all dread to go ourselves. Bobcat mudered a year ago nearly to the month. Sometimes I could just scream at God and ask Him why the good gotta die and all the stinkin evil lives on. 12000 + in China, 100,000 and much more in Myanmar, through the ignorance of egomaniacal Generals. God, grant me the serenity...! To the tune of starvin millions, they stand on pride and arrogance. What the F**k! Sorry, I just can't get it. I aint the sharpest knife in the drawer, just ask Jesse and brother Rarly. What's next? I lose one of you?

Jimmy: Every morning, after my prayers, I open my 24 hours a day book to Jan. 6th. and read the thought for the day, before I read my daily page. Been doin' that many a year now...I also find the Meditation for the day, of May 5th, very comforting. Hope it helps Brother....

"I cannot ascertain the spiritual with my intellect. I can only do it by my own faith and spiritual faculties. I must think of God more with my heart than with my head. I can breathe in God's very spirit in the life around me. I can keep my eyes turned towards the good things in the world. I am shut up in a box of space and time, but I can open a window in that box by faith. I can empty my mind of all the limitations of material things. I can sense the Eternal".

I'll continue sendin' prayers up my Brother. Just keep puttin' one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing.....God granted the likes of you and I sobriety for a reason. I don't know what his plans are for me and I don't particularly care. I have a track record with Him now, that proves that He has my best interests at heart. I not only have complete Faith in Him now, but I Trust Him completely with my life and everything in it....What a sense of peace this gives me, when I am spiritually fit enough to accept this Truth. I know you have a strong Faith too, my Brother. Hang on to it with both hands...

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by BillJ

Prayers continue, Jimmy.

That means everything to me Jesse.

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by toad

Sorry to hear about your friend Ricky L.. My prayers go out to his family and his friends.

Friday I lost a good friend in KC named Ricky J.. Ricky J. and I partied together for many years. We worked together and shared a house for a year in the 70's. Ricky J. was 60 years old and never quit drinking whiskey or smoking tobacco. We talked over the past couple of years about being sober. He wanted what being sober offered, but did not want to give up the effect produced by it. Six months ago he told me he had lung cancer. It was quick. Ricky J. rode a fairly new Truimph 900 Trident. I will miss my friend as you will too hammer.

Sheesh, >>I am sorry toad.

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Jimmy: Every morning, after my prayers, I open my 24 hours a day book to Jan. 6th. and read the thought for the day, before I read my daily page. Been doin' that many a year now...I also find the Meditation for the day, of May 5th, very comforting. Hope it helps Brother....

"I cannot ascertain the spiritual with my intellect. I can only do it by my own faith and spiritual faculties. I must think of God more with my heart than with my head. I can breathe in God's very spirit in the life around me. I can keep my eyes turned towards the good things in the world. I am shut up in a box of space and time, but I can open a window in that box by faith. I can empty my mind of all the limitations of material things. I can sense the Eternal".

I'll continue sendin' prayers up my Brother. Just keep puttin' one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing.....God granted the likes of you and I sobriety for a reason. I don't know what his plans are for me and I don't particularly care. I have a track record with Him now, that proves that He has my best interests at heart. I not only have complete Faith in Him now, but I Trust Him completely with my life and everything in it....What a sense of peace this gives me, when I am spiritually fit enough to accept this Truth. I know you have a strong Faith too, my Brother. Hang on to it with both hands...

That helped me too man, thanks a lot, I am not so sad today.

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by sticker

condolences to you hammer and all of Ricky's loved ones..he went as he live from the sound of it, but all to soon. I understand what your feeling..has been way to many deaths in my life the last couple yrs. All i can do is honor their memory and remember them with love. Many days I ride with them foremost in my mind

Yea man, it is like that when I ride too. It's like their there right there with you, hair whippin in the wind. Rick did die as he lived in a flash of the blade.

[recoveringnky]

You continue to be in my prayers my friend! I hope to get to see you and give you big hug come August!!!

Kym

[harleyrunt]

Hang in there Hammer Buddy!!!! You, your family, and Ricky's families have my deepest sympathy. For me dealing with death seems like the hardest time for me to stay clean. Remember one day at a time bud!!!!! We are all here if you need us!!!

[Jazzed_N_MD]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

Today, my friend, my brother Rick L. was T-Boned by a lady in an SUV doing an estimated 60 MPH on a city side street. Ricky died quick. Thank God. I don't even know how to act. Rick and I shat green in the sandbox together. We went all through school together, we even went to the big house together. That aint the point. I don't need to shut the door on my past today. I can smile and say Later my friend, I will see you later. Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard. The sleeping know no pain, it's the living that are scarred. Lilbit, Bobcat, now Ricky too. So much death in a world full of life.

Makes ya see the cycle of life real clear. God lilbit, I am soooo damned sorry for your loss. My heart could burst from the pain. I loved Rick, he was a true hard ridin ironhorse cowboy, just like I always thought I was, Ricky lived it and shows his colors now, off into the sunset. Ricky will ride on now, and I am truly happy for him, he always said he'd die on his sled. Hehe, self fulfilling prophesy, huh? Hundreds of scooter tramps will raise their fists to the skies for Rick tomorrow, myself included. There won't be a dry eye in the house, except for mine. I know Rick wanted me to smile when I thought of him, his body's gone, that's all. There's plenty of time for bein selfish later, when I am in my quiet place alone with God, on my knees for his mother and family. It was hard not to when Mama L. handed me his keys to his Road King. I looked down and smiled.

I know there's a reason for all of this, Laura and Jordie packin their bags even though I am sober as a judge. Lilbit's sweet Dorie dyin the way we all dread to go ourselves. Bobcat mudered a year ago nearly to the month. Sometimes I could just scream at God and ask Him why the good gotta die and all the stinkin evil lives on. 12000 + in China, 100,000 and much more in Myanmar, through the ignorance of egomaniacal Generals. God, grant me the serenity...! To the tune of starvin millions, they stand on pride and arrogance. What the F**k! Sorry, I just can't get it. I aint the sharpest knife in the drawer, just ask Jesse and brother Rarly. What's next? I lose one of you?

These are all stupid and irrlevant questions. People droppin like flies has a way of twisting my thoughts around like that. The monkey tries to get to my shoulder as fast as he can when I grieve for the dead, because I am selfish and wante them back here with me. So, it's with a real heavy heart I surrender Ricky to the wind. I wave farewell to Bobcat, to Dori, and to all in the wind now. I accept their passing as a part of God's eternal plan. Thanks for lettin me vent here yet again. I will accept another 24 hours and move on.

As I bid farewell to those that have finished their time here in the tangible relm, I let out a roar to let the Heavens know a warrior is coming and rejoice in knowing that my path is paved by those same loved ones and what they leave behind is a lesson we all can learn from. Tis a good thing to SEE those closest grow. Vent all you want Brothers and Sisters. Welcome back Hammer.

Immortal words of Jimi,

"If you dont see me no more in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, and dont be late..."

To me, this means that when it's your time, your welcome here, I'll be waiting with open arms.

[The_Hammer]

We put Rick in the ground yesterday. He was a Marine corps Desert Storm/Eagle vet. I was alright till they played Taps for him. All the family I have are vets, including myself and Taps always drew me in. I would stand at attention, every muscle locked and my chin set forward. Soon as the dude started blowin Taps for my downed bro, THe ol lips start quiverin and my alcoholic mind starts to tell me it should of been me. Ricky was to damned good of a soldier, to good of a brother, too good a friend to die now.

The kept his box shut. Momma L. said she could not see her son in what the undertaker showed to her, so the box stayed shut, even for family. I never saw Ricky again alive or dead. But it's time to move on. His body's gone, that's all.

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts, such ends yet another chapter in my life. I told his family what yall were doin for them. THey did the best they could to smile and said thanks. Ricky loved Bob Seger, must of seen him a dozen times. He made me promise if I went before him, to play this song at his funeral, and I did.

In memory of Richard Longnecker-Bob Seger's Travelin Man:

UP WITH THE SUN, GONE WITH THE WIND,

SHE ALWAYS SAID I WAS LAZY.

LEAVIN' MY HOME, LEAVIN' MY FRIENDS,

RUNNIN' WHEN THINGS GET TOO CRAZY.

OUT ON THR ROAD, OUT 'NEATH THE STARS,

FEELIN' THE BREEZE, PASSIN' THE CARS.



WOMEN HAVE COME, WOMEN HAVE GONE,

EVERYONE TRYIN' TO CAGE ME.

SOME WERE SO SWEET, I BARELY GOT FREE,

OTHERS, THEY ONLY ENRAGED ME.

SOMETIMES AT NIGHT, I SEE THEIR FACES,

I FEEL THE TRACES THEY LEFT ON MY SOUL.

THOSE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT MADE ME A WEALTHY SOUL.



TRAVELIN' MAN, LOVE WHEN I CAN,

TURN LOOSE MY HAND 'CAUSE I'M GOIN'.

TRAVELIN' MAN, CATCH IF YOU CAN,

BUT SOONER OR LARE I'M GOIN'.

TRAVELIN' MAN ... TRAVELIN' MAN, YES I AM.



SOMETIMES AT NIGHT, I SEE THEIR FACES,

I FEEL THE TRACES THEY LEFT ON MY SOUL.

THESE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT MADE ME A WEALTHY SOUL.

THESE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT MADE ME A WEALTHY SOUL.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

In memory of Richard Longnecker

In the Frighteningly Small World Department, we have this item: One of my wife's cousins, who lives in Omaha, is married to a fellow named Longnecker. Hard to imagine they're not related somehow.

I don't dwell on my losses, but when I think of those who have gone on before me I offer up a little prayer.

Condolences to you and to Richard's family, Jimmy. Keep the faith.

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by BillJ

In the Frighteningly Small World Department, we have this item: One of my wife's cousins, who lives in Omaha, is married to a fellow named Longnecker. Hard to imagine they're not related somehow.

I don't dwell on my losses, but when I think of those who have gone on before me I offer up a little prayer.

Condolences to you and to Richard's family, Jimmy. Keep the faith.

Thanks bro. If he's a longnecker, they probably are. THese are COlumbus Longneckers, but I have a co-worker that said he knew a "shorty" here in Omaha and that he was related to the Columbus Longneckers. I personally can't say one way or the other and I have none the Columbus Longneckers for time out of mind, my whole 46 yrs.

And I agree, this is a closed chapter in my life, it hurts too bad to hang on too any how.