In the midst of replacing the engine in my son's Integra, a friend and co-worker suffering from pancreatic cancer passed away. The funeral was a heart breaker. He fought it to the end, and never complained once. Although three years younger than me, he's one of my heroes. You could see how hard the chemo had been on him. It was a sad group of pipefitters at the funeral home but we all felt the same way about Mike. Fortunately, he was financially responsible, and his wife will get his retirement from DuPont.
The Integra has been a pain. Once the engine was out, I pulled the trans off and saw that the clutch was shot. All of the motor mounts, and the trans mount were broken. I've been lucky though, a friend used to be a mechanic at a local Acura dealer, and helped me immeasurably, and another friend runs Hanover Hondasports, (Bill Hunter, a G/Production road racer), helped me run down the "dealer-only" parts I needed. I told my son I'm closing the "garage" after this one. I caught my head mechanic drinking on the job one too many times. The engine should go back in tommorrow.
Tonight I'm going to the IRL race and am I ever looking forward to it. Hoping for a good clean race. Even if Danica wins it.

Not much you can say to somebody who has lost a loved one to really make them feel good Sorry for your loss. I lost a good friend(25yrs.) to a telephone pole 2yrs ago.
My Dad pasted because of cancer 7weeks ago,this is tough 3 month blurrr. I have not touched my car,the new fresh engine 4.5K in a craddle on the floor BY the car. I feel myself wanting to return to finish my car BUT I don't know its just not the same. I hope my spirit returns. Really pisses me off My Dad was asking me all the time is the motor in, car done yet? Damn it

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It's never easy when someone passes away. As they say, time is a great healer.
As for the IRL race last night, Danica drove a smarter race than several veterans, and finished 10th. One of the 2 Chevies finished 4th.

That's terrible Bill! Seems like cancer and all those great diseases go for the nice people!

I am 5 years out from losing my absolute best friend in the world to pancreatic cancer ... my Dad.

I feel your pain and know the loss.

There is life after cancer ... but sometimes it really does suck.

Wow. We lost our 'mama dog' a couple of weeks ago and our good neighbor last week to metastatic melanoma. All Joy wanted to do was please us and play with her ball. Gene was one of the first people to welcome us to the neighborhood when we moved in and were renovating our house.

Yep, it seems like cancer and those great diseases get the good 'people'.

I take solace in the fact that they are in a better place and are feeling no more pain.