Well not really. Overall it was $h!tty as you'd expect. But the memorial/life celebration afterwards was in a word, humbling.

The sheer number of people this "kid" touched at the age of 29 was amazing. By the time we finally got to the funeral home at about 3 (ran noon-4) 250 people/couples had signed the book and the vast majority of those just aren't the signing type and didn't. There were pictures of him everywhere with friends and family, some band promo artwork he had done and various tatoo inspirations. His music and his musical inspiration played in the background. He was laid to rest with his brass knuckles, a G.I. Joe and firefighter helmet.

Afterwards there was a reception in the field house at Humbolt Park. Most of the crowd had musical talent, and a tremendous amount of it, and each took a turn playing a song or two with speeches/tributes/toasts by his friends intermingled. I've never been to a proverbial Irish wake, I'd have to think that this was pretty comparable. Towards the end everyone went outside and they started up a New Orleans-esque funeral procession, complete with drummer and brass, around the park and through the kickball fields.

My wife, brother, parents and I were the only ones there without visible ink (and most of them there had enough to go around) or Saints & Sinners MC club jackets. The Country Outlaw/Rockabilly movement is alive and well in Chicago. It's amazing how many had SW and mid-W upbringing and ended up in the big city. Many of them thought nothing of carrying a 6" Buck knife on the belt. I've never met a nicer, more genuine bunch of people in my life. It's no wonder my sister loves it there. She's doing well now, I'm just worried about her once everything quiets back down and normal life returns. A few of her friends from NM are staying with her for a few months to keep an eye on her along with her Chicago circle.

It also turns out that he had been training for the Chicago Marathon in Oct. His plan was to cross the finish line, all gross and sweaty, and pull off his race shirt revealing a t-shirt underneath asking my sister to marry him. On one hand, I'm not sure I needed to know that, OTOH I'm glad I did.

I promise, this is the last downer post from me. It just had such an impact. I hate to hit and run, but I've been scrambling all day to finish up some work stuff. I'm off to Nashville to a few days on business and then I'm off the following week for vacation and not sure I'll get a chance to check in. Have a good Hump Day, Friday, Hump Day and Friday if I don't get back for a bit.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I think it says a lot about someone's life, if their friends and family can celebrate it like that when it is over. Sounds like it was quite an experience. I hope your sister will be okay. It takes time for such things to heal and there's not really anything anyone can do to hurry it along.

So, will you be getting a tat in Nashville to make up your visible ink deficiency, Swamp?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I was considering opening a tattoo business as I was driving back from NC yesterday. I was thinking that I might name it Tats for Tits or something like that. What do you think?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Thanks for the update Swamp. It sounds like it was an incredible wake for an amazing guy.


Don't fear getting a "tat". It feels like a light electrical shock while you're getting it and like a sunburn while it heals. Avoid the sternum and armpits if you have a low pain threshold.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

I think the phrase is "Tit for Tat".

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Yeah, unless it's a tattoo parlor and you're tattooing tits. Then it's Tats for Tits, my friend.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Unless you were to specialize in tattoos for armpits. Then, it would probably be Tats for Pits . . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

You could make a mint if you went mobile to events like Mardi Gras.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Would you even do the pancake ones with yeast under it?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

You'd have to wear a gas mask.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

He could tattoo pats of butter and strips of bacon on them.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

How much money we talkin' about?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

You know, it seems like those would be self-correcting. Doesn't yeast cause dough to rise? Wouldn't those really be self-rising pancake tits?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Not in Nashville but there are a number of them in the design phase. While I was the black sheep, I stayed away from the motorcycles so my mom wouldn't worry about me (any more than she had to) and the tatoos (so mom wouldn't be disappointed). My sister jumped both of those obstacles for me leaving me free!

And thanks. As usual, it don't take long for a thread to turn does it?

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

NOt for a bunch of healthy males (and a few females)!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles