he's gone

My ex-husband, my closest friend and work partner passed away around midnight.

His sister just called to announce the horrible news.

I'm shivering, can't even write.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/loucine/img1.jpg

Oh Aline, I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you, dear.

I'm so terribly sorry Aline. From your postings about him, I know how much he meant to you.


((((((((( hugs ))))))))))

:(

Sorry to hear the news Loucine, hugs to you!

Stu and I spent Sunday at the hospital watching the passing of a loved-one too. Stu's Grandad (who was a pretty healthy 84 yo) had a sudden heart attack, and his kidneys were failing him due to the heart medication. He passed away in the night, many hours after we arrived at the hosptial. Everyone was crying, and his wife was in tatters. I hate hosptials.

Stu's Grandad was an Australian war hero from WW2. He was quick to accept our age gap, which was very big of him considering his generation.

When I put on a few kilo's after I gave up smoking, amongst a lot of `ooooh, aaaahhs' from other relatives, he was quick to say to them how beautiful I looked and how courageous I was to give up smoking.

He frequently praised his wife for her amazing beauty, the happiness she gave him, and her good nature, even though to others she may have appeared to be just a an old, short, fat lady with arthristis.

Here's to lost loved one's Loucine!

Aline... I'm so sorry!!!!! I know it's difficult but please be strong....If you ever need to talk please PM me ok.. I lost my fiance of 7 years when I was 23 years old and I know and understand this pain!!!

Hugs!!

Mer

aline.... i am so sorry

I'm sorry...its so hard to lose someone we're incredibly closed to.

Even though its almost 10 years, my friend's father passed away a couple of weeks ago and we were both crying about our dads and how much they meant to us.

But they never leave us completely, you know, the imprint of their lives continues to love us, strengthen us, and give us hope. That's what lives within us and within that love for them, its what they take with them.

Know you were well loved.

Paris

I'm sorry for your loss and the loss of your family. What a tragedy.

I am so sorry Aline, peace and strength to you.

thinking about you Loucine.....big hugs...your loyalty and love must have been a great comfort to him...
love and light to you
chez

I am thinking of you in this time of sorrow..

Expressing our very deepest sympathies. Sending much love.
Brownbear and Kindanice

Ah sweetheart,

I am really sorry for the loss of someone you care for so deeply, nothing none can say right now will trully comfort you. Just time and the great memories he left behind.

Sending you good thoughts and a warm hug~

watch for flickering lights or sounds........i bet he'll come by to say goodbye before he leaves the earth plane.

that's a gorgeous picture of you two. i'm glad you had time together on this planet.

love, kat

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.

Loucine . . . I am so sorry . . . it is so sad to lose the ones we love . . . but I always try to look at it from the perspective that they are the lucky ones in that they are with our Lord in paradise and we are still stuck here in this crazy place awaiting our turn to join them. Even so, it does leave a void in our hearts that we must fill with wonderful memories of our loved one that will be with us forever.

Take care and God Bless.

Lou, I am so sorry for the loss of your special loved one. My warm thoughts with you at this time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aline!

I never know what to say when someone have lost someone dear to them :(
But here is something from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran (my favorit poet).

Death

Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."

And he said:

You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.


http://www.eit.or.th/webboard/wbimages/4057a.jpg

I have shivers reading all this. Although I do no know you personally Aline, having read all of your posts and having seen how this community gravitates to you, gives me a sense of what an extraordinary person he must have been to have ended up with you in the first place. Your picture is beautiful. All I can do is wish you peace and strength in the days ahead. This is very sad. :(

You are in my prayers. I wish there was something I could say.

-Nibbles

you are so dear to my heart even though we have never met, the photo is so beautiful, sometimes the most selfless thing we can do is to leave someone go when they are suffering, in my awareness his spirit has always been here and will go on forever.

hugs, love, a warm coffee and glass of wine, whatever it takes to get you past your loss.

love and Godbless to you and your friend.

we love you so much aline and i am so grateful you included us so openly in your life. you are a treasure.

I'm so sorry Aline.

:(

Que les précieux souvenirs
apaisent ton chagrin.

Toutes mes sincères condoléances.

((((((Aline))))))))

Sorry for your loss Loucine

Aline, words are no comfort at the moment, but I am sorry for your loss and will keep you and your ex in my thoughts ...

hugz

Thank you all for you beautiful posts and thank you Pink Cat and SoraNoYume for your lovely PM-s.

I wish I could answer, I just don't have the force to type.

Your support means alot to me.

You have my most sincere condolences on your loss.

Aline...((Hugs)) Im sending you lots of prayers at this difficult time.

Thats a beautiful picture of the two of you. :)

I know for a while now he had not been able to be quite himself because of the disease, so I take heart in the fact that he is no longer struggling or suffering. However, I'm so sorry for your loss and the world's loss..that someone so special has now moved on.

I'm thinking about you and sending you lots of positive energy and strength...

I'm so sorry that your hurting right now.

Thank you Jody and vharlow.

Just to clarify. He was my first husband. He was not my son's father, my second husband is a monster in excellent health. At least he's alive and my son still has some sort of a father.

The only orphans that he left are the black cat in Chatterbox's sig (Mr. Popov) and all the people who loved him very, very dearly.

I'm feeling quite lost, crying sometimes and at other times just staring into empty space. He's been with me, soooo close for the past 18 years. I cannot imagine my life without him.

The layout of the book will be out tomorrow. A big story that we worked on together will come out in a prestigeious magazine on Thursday. He didn't even wait to see all of that. I worked my brains off to finish the book just so that he can see it, and he didn't even wait for the layout.

I must try to get some sleep. I have a train to catch at 6:30 in the morning to help put together a tribute to him at the annual International Photo Festival.

Life must go on.

I dont know what to say either in such a sad and difficult time. :(
Mes condoléances les plus sincères Aline
(((((((((hug))))))))))))

Thinking of you......

I am so sorry as well, Aline. I can only imagine what memories you have when you look at that artistically stunning photo you posted. I am glad, too, that the book is done; for even though he may not physically be here to look at it, we have no way of knowing he is not doing so spiritually...

Hugs to you...

I am so sorry Aline. I feel that this has been a trying time for you, hugz.

How wonderful that the two of you remained just close friends....and your memories of him are pleasant......

So sorry ((hug)).

Aline,

I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy to you in the loss of your partner.

Thanks for sharing the photogragh. It is beautiful.

I'm so sorry, Loucine. How sad that he couldn't hang on to see the results of all of your work.

((((((((((((((Loucine)))))))))))))))))))

Ma cherie, I am so sorry..... May he rest in peace!

I bet you will feel his presence. Somehow he will let you know he saw the last work you did... Feel the signs!

A handsome man indeed!

I'm so sorry for you loss, Loucine


May GOD bless you and be with you in this time of need, in JESUS name Amen,

So sorry, Aline. What a difficult time this has been for you. :(

Oh dear... sweet Aline, I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers.

Aline,

I'm so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest sympathy.

I wish I could give you a hug. :(

My heartfelt sympathies Aline.

Sorry to hear of your loss Aline. I never really know what to say at times like these but I will keep you in my prayers. {{{Aline}}}

I'm so sorry Aline, I don't know you but I had to reply.

That pic is beautiful, your husband looks familiar to me, but I don't know why.

Traddy.

Sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like both of your lives were blessed in knowing each other and I'm sure even with his passing the two of you will forever be entwined.

My heartfelt sympathy to you and those who loved him.

i'm so sorry Aline ....... my condolences to all who loved him. ( big ol hugs) !

Sweet Aline, please accept my condolences for your deep loss.

I am certain that your loved one is wishing for your rapid healing...and I am, as well.

***huggs***

Love,

Gina

Thank you again, and again for all your kind words.

Feeling much better already.

Spent the whole day in Bourgogne yesterday putting together two slide shows that will be shown on three giant screens during the International photo Festival in Perpignan in September. One of the book and the other about him. They will be seen by thousands of press and photo professionals.

Today I spent the day with his wife, two sisters and their extended family from Seatle. It was very touching and very warm. His wife and I spent at least 5 minutes just holding each other. I love her.

Tomorrow is the funeral and on Saturday I'll be going to Amsterdam and when I get back, lots of work is awaiting me.

Being busy really helps, but I'm not getting used to seeing his empty chair, not being able to pick up the phone and call him and I cannot get his smile out of my mind.

I refuse to see his lifeless body. I want to keep an image of him alive and smiling, the way I saw him until the end....

My deepest condoloences, Aline. My prayers are with you.

~Michele

Precious Aline. I'm so sorry for your loss. You're in my thoughts and prayers as you cherish your sweet friend's memory.

Aline, it is obvious that you two were a team. All I can simply offer is a heart-felt HUG. Hang in there, dear one. :(

Aline, there are no words that are sufficent at this time. My deepest condelences to you.

Respectfully,
Fae