RIP Ron McDowell

[Sunny1]

Katie, ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) from me, too.  You are an inspiration.  Wishing you peace and happiness.

 

[swankiewheels]

I too want to cry for you Katie and for all of us... we have lost a really great friend.&nbsp; Please give my regards to his Mom and other family.&nbsp; I know how much he wanted to get to an RTR... but Mom always came first.&nbsp; I just can't believe this.&nbsp; I'm sad I didn't take more photos of him... it felt to me like an invasion of privacy to take his photo in the wheelchair.&nbsp; I've been in the mountains without internet for the past two weeks... and only learned tonight of his passing.&nbsp; He was my emergency contact person for my SPOT device... and I will remove his email address from it and notify other contacts of his death.&nbsp; I'm so glad you are able to help out his family.&nbsp; I love you.<br /><a href="http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-angel-has-left-earth.html">http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-angel-has-left-earth.html</a>

 

[twokniveskatie]

Swankie, I know how much he loved and respected you. I wish I has been able to contact you sooner, I knew you would take it hard, but you went back to the mountains the day I learned he was gone. He really championed your travels and your spirit.

Mutt still looks for him. Yesterday he rested his head on Ron's chair twice, just kinda waiting. Someone found the monkey that Ron was saving for our next visit. Mutt has essentially ignored it, but took a liking to a pen he found today. Don't know if it was Ron's, but mutt always got something of mine....a shoe or my water bottle....and took it to his bed when I had to leave him, even for a few minutes. I think that may have Ron's scent, and Mutt claimed it.....

 

[swankiewheels]

Awh...that's my Mutt.&nbsp; I've read all those stories about how a dog will grieve for a loved one lost.&nbsp; I remember the first time I met "vandwellers" at the Slabs... I think there were seven there on my first outting.&nbsp; Mutt was the first 4-legged one to greet me as I stepped out of my van... and then he and Homer did this growling/fighting kinda thing, as if to say, "she's mine", no she's mine.&nbsp; And as I approached the group... I began to recognize people from having gotten to known folks a little over the internet.&nbsp; Ron was the first I reached down to shake hands with, not realizing he could no really make a "hand shake."&nbsp; I've always hoped I didn't embarrass him, but I shook it anyway.&nbsp; Then after that I got to meet you Katie, then Mike and Heidi, and Bob Wells, and I forgot who else.&nbsp; It was a lot of excitement and happiness.&nbsp; I remember you, Katie, where in the process of unloading everything from your van and Bob was in the process of rebuilding or building the shelf/bed unit... so I jumped in and helped.&nbsp;&nbsp; Later we moved camp to a more open place away from the fumes of the fires (for Mike and for me).&nbsp; Then Bob and I drove into a town(?) and got gunk/caulking material for installing my vent fan (the reason for this first outting of mine).&nbsp; Reed showed up later that day with Bear (RIP Bear-you got good company now).&nbsp; We fun we had... and remember the Schwanns truck arriving as I got down off my roof after the six hour vent install... and me running to see if they had coffee ice cream... and then the ice cream left with Mike and Heidi to go to the hospital and I had to wait a couple more days for my reward.&nbsp; What a time!!!&nbsp; So many memories, not all good ... but all such good friends.&nbsp; Best we take time to enjoy those we love and care about.&nbsp; I'm just in shock... things feel so unfinished.&nbsp; I was so hoping he would get to make that cross country trip on a road-wheelchair/bike with Katie as his road warrior.&nbsp; I loved that dream of his.&nbsp; I would have been there along the route somewhere cheering him on.&nbsp; I just want to scream or cry&nbsp; or hug someone.&nbsp; Guess when I get back up on the mountain I will do just that... paddle out on the middle of the lake when no one is there and just let out a blood-curdling scream.

 

[swankiewheels]

<p>Oooooo my signature line doesn't fit in well here.... kinda my life motto... "It doesn't get any better than this, until tomorrow!"&nbsp; or does it.&nbsp; How could it get better than a wonderful evening with good friends, great food (I know that for a fact cause I been there and done that), and dying in your van!!!!&nbsp; Actually, that would work for me too!&nbsp; Way to go Ron!!!!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /></p>

 

[twokniveskatie]

Swankie, you brought back so many good memories....even the bad ones are good because they brought out our communal strength. Especially thanks for the reminder about the cross-country trip for Cystoc fibrosis! Road Warriors indeed! We had so much fun planning that, in honor of Sweet Mike's battle that year at the Slabs. We had to postpone it while Ron cared for his Mom. I hope I still have the monster wheelchair plans he was developing. I wanted one too!

I have had some conflicting thoughts about Ron's choices (not that I can second guess them) and I wonder what I would do on the same circumstances. On one hand, he put off his dreams when his mom needed him, and I feel sadness about that, but I love him all the more because he did it without complaint or question or a seconds hesitation. But I bet if he had it to do over again, but knew his days were so short, he'd do it exactly the same way.

I'm waiting for some numbers to come from the estate. I would love to buy the van!

 

[VanFan]

I am in a town briefly, then heading back into spotty cell phone/internet territory for a few more blissful days.&nbsp; Just wanted to check in here to see how things are going and let all of you know how very much our connections mean to me.<br /><br />Vickie

 

[twokniveskatie]

Vickie- it looks like I will be leaving next week and driving pretty much straight through for my nieces wedding. I can't believe I will be passing you by again, I miss you so much. I hope to do it this time without tornadoes, though, and will be returning in a very short while. Have fun and be safe.

 

[Seraphim]

Katie -<br /><br />Somehow I missed this thread, but I wanted to offer my belated condolences on the loss of a friend. From your description, I'm truly sorry I never met him.<br /><br />Be careful on the road...

 

[swankiewheels]

Katie... just got back down off the mountain again.&nbsp; I did paddle out into the middle of the lake but skipped the scream... as there were many fishermen along the shoreline.&nbsp; But I thought about Ron and remembered all he did for so many of us.&nbsp; One thing I admired so much about Ron was that he would always come back with an answer to your question that was usually right on and more objective than replies from other people.&nbsp; I finally stopped posting my questions on Vandwellers and other groups and just asked Ron.<br />I hope you get his van Katie, but you must know mileage is going to be a lot higher. Good luck with that... I'm sure Mutt would love it, that is if he didn't tear it apart trying to find Ron somewhere in there.

 

[twokniveskatie]

"What can I say about a world where you are not? Only that the world where you were was a blessing without measure" tkk

Just a bump of rememberance. I am missing him so much....

 

[investigator77]

Katie and Charlene:&nbsp; I never knew Ron, but I hope that when I die that I have two friends as great as you are.&nbsp; If only two people mourned for me the way that you are mourning for Ron, I would be happy.&nbsp; He sounds like an awesome man.<br /><br />(((((((HUGS))))))))