I can’t believe you’re gone. I just saw you last week. I have been
running those last few hours over and over in my mind, wondering if I
could have done something to keep this from happening to you. When you
started to feel sick, should I have forced you to go to the ER instead
of letting you talk me down to just a clinic appointment for the next
day? If I had known you had diabetes, would I have known it wasn’t just
a bad bout of stomach flu? Could I have saved you?
While I’ll never know the answers to these questions, I do know that
what you taught me and what we had together will never be forgotten.
I’ll always remember pinball at Shorty’s and randomly getting to meet
John Vanderslice there before his set at the Crocodile. I love that you
got your nipples pierced on a dare, just for the hell of it. I don’t
think I’ll ever be able to read Salinger again without thinking of you.
I love that it took you four dates and copious amounts of PBR to
finally work up enough courage to kiss me. You were the most charming
bastard I’ve ever met. You loved life so much, and you helped me truly
start living mine more than you’ll ever know. It fucking sucks you
won’t be along for the ride, but you got me going. Thank you, RIP, and
I’ll always, always miss you. 
Well, this is the first I, Anon that I’ve really liked in a long time. Snaps.
Great column. Stunning illustration.
fucking sad. I’m about to check obits
Fake!
Because SOMEBODY has to do it.
How sad. R.I.P., and condolences to ANON.
Very sweet.
This is most definitely not fake. I can tell you that.
aw… man. This sucks.
not fake, but heartbreakingly true. he is sadly missed by all of us. he was a fantastic opinionated pert whose wit i intensely miss.
HOW THE SHIT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO RACK UP 100+ COMMENTS ABOUT HOW OFF BASE THE AUTHOR WAS WITH DREARY HEARTFELT SHIT LIKE THIS?
no fun i tell ya, no fun t’all.
however, the illustration was spot on.
Um, this is very sad and sweet. Certainly a departure from the usual fare, but why is this in I, Anonymous? I mean, why is it anonymous? Why wouldn’t she ID RIP or herself? Maybe the write is a “himself” in the closet, but still, in this day and age, in Seattle?
God damn fucking sad – I’m sorry your friend had to go so soon.
I’m sorry for your loss. Sounds like he was a hell of a guy…. it also sounds like he was as lucky to have known you as you were to have known him.
Thanks for writing it- we sorely miss him.
Sorry for your loss Anonymous. I will have to go elsewhere to post my smartass comments this week.
Now I’m shitting myself about my untreated diabetes–I can’t afford insurance.
He was indeed, a really fucking good dude. Damn we miss you man.
its not all about fun and games and cynicism!!!! life is not all about ego and self-gratification! My condolences to those who lost a friend and a big FUCK YOU to people who dont have humanity and live in a fantasy land.
How awful, I’m so sorry 🙁 That really sucks.
I don’t know what happened, but I think if you had known he had diabetes without much knowledge of the disease itself, it may have not made a difference. I think something you can take from this experience is to always contact a consulting nurse over the phone if you’re unusually sick. You may not have been able to save his life, but recommending that a friend call a consulting nurse might save a life in the future.(Swedish Hospital has a free one, I believe.)
wow, my deepest sympathies- to you and everyone affected.
While it’s ridiculous to try to tell someone not to think about what could have been done differently, I hope that it’s something you don’t find yourself lingering over down the road.
Five and a half years ago, I was in a similar place. I possibly (but, really, unknowably- and the same for you, too) could have prevented the death of someone I loved (and still do) with all of my heart. I came so close to (possibly? probably? maybe not?) unwittingly stopping what happened, but just didn’t have the info that would have sealed the deal.
Maybe he should have told me his situation, maybe I should have followed through with my plans instead of second-guessing myself. A whole city mourned his death and I still miss him horribly.
I liked what you said, “You were the most charming bastard I’ve ever met. You loved life so much, and you helped me truly start living mine more than you’ll ever know. It fucking sucks you won’t be along for the ride, but you got me going. Thank you, RIP, and I’ll always, always miss you.”
That’s the most elegant thing I’ve ever heard. I wish I could have looked at it like that at the time. Not to say I haven’t healed significantly since then, but I will definitely look at it like that from now on. The fact that you have that outlook from the beginning makes me think you’ll heal from this as well as anyone ever can.
Best wishes and good luck.
PS – I don’t know if it means anything in your part of the country, but Dias de los Muertos is just a few days away and I always celebrate it. I don’t know if it’s too soon, but it is a very nice holiday.
#17 – Hellbound Allee
If you have Type II diabetes that can be controlled through oral medication, it is probably some of the cheapest medication you can get. Metformin is the most prescribed oral Type II diabetes medication and a month’s supply is ONLY $4 AT MOST MAJOR PHARMACIES. Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, Target all have this price. Please get your diabetes under control. Get one doctor visit in and get on medication. You don’t want to have your kidneys shut down or worse.
@17, 22 just beat me to it. Can’t treat your diabetes? You don’t have type 1, that’s fatal without insulin. So you have type 2, and you can do the following for FREE: exercise, lose weight, and avoid carbs you don’t really need. And yeah, get your metformin for money you can scrounge up spare-changin’ in 15 minutes on the street. Get glyburide or glipizide for the same bucks and we’re talking $20 for two 90 day supplies. If you smoked, or had a drink in the last month, you’ve got money to treat diabetes.
I think I know who this is about…and I fucking miss him too.
RIP buddy.
HEY 19, you take everything you read on message boards this seriously?
yikes.
The sadness of grief, moments that slip by too fast, and the weight of all the memories. Thank you for allowing us to be with you in your sadness.
One less stupid hipster.
Wow. Sad one this time. Sorry for your loss.
@17 – well you should be worried, so try this – look online to see if there are any government programs in your state you might qualify for. If you pay any taxes and your state does have a CHIP program or something similar, you’re already helping to fund it so you might as well see if you qualify. If not, save your pennies for an initial appointment by cash, which will probably be about $150. Borrow from family if you have to. If you explain you don’t have insurance, sometimes doctors will give you free samples of meds. And like others said, the medicine itself is cheap once you get a prescription.
Number 27 — Go fuck yourself. Someone died.
Number one rule in life: Don’t be a dick.
You fail.
Wow, that choked me up. So sweet and so sad.
@27
Next time someone close to you dies, hope you hear the same. Be sure to feel guilty, you aren’t worth the time to convince if you’re really this much of an idiot.
To the writer, I’m sorry such a close friend is gone. I can’t describe how beautifully you wrote this, actual sincerity.
Beautiful. Whenever I have to have an obituary, I would much rather have a simple heartfelt story of my passing from one perspective, coupled with a perfect drawing in the Stranger instead.
Still miss ya, buddy.