We lost a dear friend this weekend

[BillJ]

When I started producing acoustic concerts, 11 years ago, Bruce mentored and encouraged me. My wife and I met at Bruce and Liz's house. When we got married, Bruce drove me to the church, and helped pay for the high-dollar hotel room I'd reserved for our wedding night. I didn't have a best man that day, but Bruce was the next thing to it.

Bruce also encouraged my wife's singing, booked her to open for some of her favorite performers, and offered to help finance her CD recording. He encouraged my songwriting, and gave us both a safe place to share our music with a supportive audience. He was as proud of us as if we were his own children.

On Saturday afternoon, Bruce was returning home from a UT basketball game (the Longhorns being his next great passion, after Liz and folk music) when he suffered what appears to be a massive heart attack. A motorist who witnessed the incident stopped to render aid, called 911 and administered CPR, all to no avail.

Bruce's wife is inconsolable. Her husband of 43 years is gone. The dream home they just built is now a monument to all the plans they'd made, that will never be realized. Their long-awaited retirement, their plans to travel, all gone, in an instant.

There are several lessons in all I've witnessed over the past 24 hours:

First, if you don't already do so, be sure you tell the people you love how you feel about them NOW. Don't find yourself regretting, as Liz was today, that your last words to them weren't "I love you."

Second, let them know what your wishes are, in case something should happen to you. Liz has had to make decisions no grieving widow should have to make: whether to donate Bruce's organs for transplant or research, how he'd want his body disposed of, who will speak at the funeral service, even whether or not to list a charity "in lieu of flowers..." as most obituaries do. It's not easy to talk about death, but death comes to us all. Let's not make it any harder on our loved ones than it needs to be.

Third, though it might sound macabre, it wouldn't hurt to rough out an obituary for yourself. I had to write Bruce's today - an honor for me, but an overwhelming task for Liz, had I not been there to do it. Again, a small thing we can do to help ease the burden for those we leave behind.

If you're so inclined, I'd appreciate you keeping Liz, Deb, Janet, Lindsey, Bron, Bella and Gabriel in your prayers. Thanks!

you got it bill. i'm very sorry to hear that, and sorry for your loss. several good points you made as well.

[ARIES]

Man ...I think you must go through a hard time as well as his family..I'm not good in prayin' but I light a candle for them...I wish you all a lot of strenght ...Big hugs from Stefanie..

[Gooch]

((((((((Bill)))))))))

Thank you for the solemn reminder that when all is said and done all we have to leave is the heart to heart touches..

Prayers for Bruce's family and friends are being said.

[namommy]

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[best]

Prayers that you find peace and comfort at this time as well Bill.

[Blessed]

I am so sorry for your loss...your friend was such a wonderful man and and i was touched by all the beautiful acts of love he showed you, you are blessed... his wife needs you and she is blessed to have you and your help right now... I will pray for them all. I just lost my sister recently and the arrangements can be overwhelming... I am also a widow, my husband was murdered 28 years ago. God loved me through every step of my grief. You are right about having certain decisions and pre-arrangements are a blessing. I had no life insurance and the financial problems you have planning the funeral can be overwhelming. Knowing your loved ones wishes are so important. May God envelope you with his Love and Grace...

[BillJ]

Thank you, all. Bruce's funeral was yesterday. I had the sad honor (but honor, indeed) of being of one of four eulogists at his service. To give you an idea of how loved my friend was: One nationally-known songwriter re-arranged his tour schedule, on two day's notice, to play a song at Bruce's funeral. Two others, whose songs you've heard covered by radio artists, flew in from Nashville to play at the service. The 500-seat funeral chapel was filled to overflowing, with folks standing three and four deep at the back, and spilling out into the foyer. If you're a folk music fan, you'd recognize a lot of the faces that were there.

After a private graveside service, for family and close friends, we reconvened at a church-hall coffee house in far northwest Austin - one of the many folk music venues Bruce helped create and support - where dozens of fine singers and songwriters took turns playing their tunes for Liz and the kids. This was just the kind of song-circle Bruce and Liz would end each of their Saturday night concerts with, and I know that Bruce, wherever he is, had his cowboy boots up on the table, a cup of coffee in his hand, and a big grin on his face.

Bruce was originally from Canada, so it was a happy coincidence that the last solo performer on stage was a fellow Canadian, who rendered a beautiful cover of Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds". That's a sad, dreamy farewell song, and the entire audience sang along. There's something about hearing a well-written song - even a sad one - sung by fifty or so voices, that's incredibly moving. and I know Liz appreciated it.

However, her son-in-law knew better than to end the evening on such a downbeat note, so he gathered on stage all the performers who were still in attendance, and had them offer up a silly, rowdy version of The Rolling Stones' "Take Me Down", complete with Rockette-style kicks and hammy stage posturing. It was a great light-hearted finish to the evening; one Bruce would have appreciated, and joined in on.

If you ever come across someone wearing a button that reads "Bruce Rouse Hugged Me" (which were distributed at last night's celebration) know that you're meeting a friend of mine.

[abtchonamission]

Bill,

My prayers are with your family and his family. Mike's (UeyNC) are too. We haven't the words to tell you what is in our hearts for those who are suffering this loss.

Your words of advice are not lost on us either. If nothing else, please know that you've made one family decide that it is not to early to prepare.