I received Nichols Notes a few minutes ago and thought I'd pass on part of what he had to say. It's about his friend Gennie who passed away. I don't know what to say right now about talking to the dead, though I see notices and poems in the classifieds on a regular basis concerning the death of some departed loved one. Personally, I think once a person is gone it's too late to pray for them -- and probably to talk with them. But it probably makes the speaker feel a bit better and probably helps them get a load off their own chest. I'm sure the Catholic church would disagree. Anyway, I post Larry's comments just as received from him. No. I did not get his permission, but am sure he would not object. These remarks are not to criticize what he has to say or his right to say them, but to explain that I may not fully understand part of it.

You ask, "What does this have to do with shortwave?" I reply, "Don't you remember Larry Nichols shortwave broadcast?" I doubt he's on shortwave now, but he was on WWCR for a long time. His url is at the bottom of the page.

Al

===================

A FRIENDS PLEDGE, A LIFE TOO SHORT

Last Friday, August 22, 2003, I lost a good friend. Her name was Gennie
Zellner. She was the wife of a friend of mine during and since Jr. High
School. She was a mother of a son that is now left to face this world
without her. My long time friend is enduring incredible pain as is their
son and they are facing a long period of pain, loss, and adjustment.

I, of course, am suffering pain and loss, because she was a true friend to
my family and me. Life will not be the same without her and her beautiful
smile. This situation, brings all of us that knew her to ask why? Why
would God take such a wonderful person away from all of us at such an early
age? Why would God rob her of the main job she had, taking care of her
husband and raising their son and making sure he could have a great life?
Also, what can I do to help?

The answer for me is not simple. Things I know about are easy for me to
understand but something like the death of a good friend is not something I
feel comfortable understanding. I think the best thing I can do is share
my feelings with you and maybe me telling you, can help me deal with the
loss in some purposeful way.

The death of my friend at an early age is proof that God is truly still in
charge. No matter how invincible, we think we are, God will call us home
in his time whether we are ready or not. It was Gennie's time. We should
all take comfort that she is in a better place. No more pain or suffering
with this life's journey, she made the trip that God planned for her and
she is now safe at home with God. What greater reward can anyone receive
than being with God for all eternity! Her journey, while seeming too short
for all of us who loved her presence, was shorter than some and longer than
others, but it was the exact length of time allocated to her. No matter
what any of us could have done, we could not have added or taken away one
moment from God's plan. To ease my pain and that of her family we should
be, and are, thankful that she is safe in the arms of God and he will
protect her now and forever. God, thank you for letting us have her for
the time she was here with us. She was a gift, we will be forever grateful
for.

Now for my end of the deal. God gives all of us very few true friends and
he gave me Gennie. She supported me when most other people turned away.
How can I repay her for her love and friendship throughout the years she
was in my life? The answer to this question, I believe, is in the raising
of her son and helping my friend and her husband through these troubling
times and in the future.
As for my friend and her husband, all I can do is be there for him and try
to help him through this loss. That I am and will do and Gennie knows I
would never let him suffer alone. As for her son, the best thing I can do
for him is what I had promised Gennie I would do long ago. Do everything
in my power to make him have a country to grow up in. A country that would
offer him the same chance for a future that we had.

You see, Gennie was a nurse and she did everything she could to help ease
suffering for every patient she came in contact with. But she once told me
that she felt helpless in that she didn't believe she was making a
difference in the big picture. To this end, she would often times feel sad
and of little importance. But she took great pride in being a part of my
life and being able to watch me work. She never waived in believing in me
and my ability to somehow come up with a way to protect the future for our
country and that of her son and my daughter. So the best thing I can do is
tell Gennie through this writing that I will do all in my power to not let
her down.

Gennie, if God would allow you to read this article I want to let you know
that I will be here for Bill, whenever he needs me. Have peace in knowing
that we will take care of him while you are apart. Know also, that for as
long as my journey lasts, I will do all God will allow me to do to protect
and provide the future for Robert that you wanted for him.

I am sure now, that God has revealed his plan to you and you know how our
journey here on earth will end. Somehow, I feel your approving smile, so I
know it is going to turn out the way you had hoped. I now know why you were
here and touched my life, you were one of God's angels to help me in my
journey. I will take what you gave me and use it to complete my journey
and I will do my part to fulfill God's plan.

Gennie, we all miss you but I know that we will all be together again by
the time your eye blinks. Why do I say this, because you are in God's time
now and when you compare life to eternity our journeys will be over soon!
We will have a party when we all get to Heaven that will last forever.

To all of you reading this article, Gennie's life should be an example for
all to see. Our life's journeys are already set by God. The time we will
have for our trip is already running out and only He knows how much longer
we have. How we act and where we stop along the way He leaves to us. I
would simply add, if all of us could make our journey help others along the
way, as Gennie did, then we could make the journeys of those after us
better and safer. With that God would bless us with a joyous trip through
all of eternity.

Gennie, I know you don't have worries now, but if it will help you in any
way, because of the light you brought into my life I too, am not worried
because I will not let you or God down. I guess my pledge to my friend is
still my job and her life was not too short, it was just right.

We love and miss you, Your Friends

See You Next Week and May God Bless,


Larry Nichols


THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

The greatest gift you can give to someone is your time.

Be sure to visit my web site at www.larrynichols.com. The Nichols Notes . . . .

I received Nichols Notes a few minutes ago and thought I'd pass on part of what he had to say. It's about his friend Gennie who passed away. I don't know what to say right now about talking to the dead, though I see notices and poems in the classifieds on a regular basis concerning the death of some departed loved one. Personally, I think once a person is gone it's too late to pray for them -- and probably to talk with them. But it probably makes the speaker feel a bit better and probably helps them get a load off their own chest. I'm sure the Catholic church would disagree. Anyway, I post Larry's comments just as received from him. No. I did not get his permission, but am sure he would not object. These remarks are not to criticize what he has to say or his right to say them, but to explain that I may not fully understand part of it.

You ask, "What does this have to do with shortwave?" I reply, "Don't you remember Larry Nichols shortwave broadcast?" I doubt he's on shortwave now, but he was on WWCR for a long time. His url is at the bottom of the page.

Al



When will Larry be getting back on radio and taking calls from all
those cretins he swindled?


--
Col. I.P. Yurin
Commissariat of Internal Security

Stakhanovite
Order of Lenin (1937)
Hero of Socialist Labor (1939)