A Day full of memories, lots of laughter and a few tears ... and not all mine!

[dizzojay]

Well, yesterday was as predicted a long and tiring day, and it was bittersweet and special and I wouldn't have missed it for all the world.

My home to Hull, where our buddy Steve lives, is near enough a 500 mile round trip so there was about 8 hours driving (which Mr D did, bless him) either side of our day out in Hull.

A lovely little Tapas bar in the centre of town had donated their premises for the event, and so we all made sure they did well out of us food and drink wise, and by the end of the evening the 'swear box', a collecting tin for the Dove House Hospice was full to bursting with coins and notes - yes, it was exactly what you'd expect from a railwaymans' reunion! :D

Steve, although he was a shadow of the man I'd last seen about 15 years ago before he moved up to Hull, was in good spirits, and the word of the night was 'belligerence' - that's how he faces his beast.  A fellow cancer-sufferer called Janice who he met when he was first diagnosed, and she was nearing the end of her journey, taught him that and he's never forgotten her.  so we raised a glass to Janice; Steve maintains that her simple advice has helped him keep the beast at by for twelve years.

But despite the sad reason for our visit, it was a day of joy and celebration, and I'm so very glad we did it!

Comments

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

He's mega thin but still on his feet and smiling - standing up to cancer!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

He used to call himself 'The Nine-Stone Cowboy', but I think that's probably a generous guess now. :P

[ennisjackdean.livejournal.com]

How lovely. SO very important for all of you.

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

I can imagine how important that was for you all, my dear. Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures with us.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Aw, Steve looks like a lovely guy and his attitude is great - "the word of the night was 'belligerence' - that's how he faces his beast." I'm sure the swear box was bursting at the seams with all those railwaymen there, and it was so nice of the tapas bar to host his special day. I'm sure it was a very bittersweet reunion, but well worth the long trip.

*hugs*

[sillie]

I'm glad you had a good day. So important and a good memory.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

That man is a damned legend, he's still kicking that shitty disease in the ass! *hugs you and him and everyone else* x♥x

[herminekurotowa.livejournal.com]

If you would have gathered at his funeral, it would have been too late. This is such a nice thing to do for everyone; now all of you have a great last memory of your friend, and Steve knows how cherished and loved he is.

❤

[kattrip033.livejournal.com]

*hug* Wonderful that you all were able to do that. Thank you for sharing with us.

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

What a lovely event to partake in. Would that we all would be in the right state of mind and physical state that we could have such a thing for all our loved ones. It was so nice that he and all his friends and family had a moment to enjoy such an event.