Wasted Years

George Carlin dead at 71.

His keen observations of the world around him will be missed.

On Monday June 26th, Rob Smith a.k.a 'Acidman' of Gut Rumbles passed away. A memorial service took place today, including a post on his blog where people have been leaving comments in memory of him, as well as several posts by other bloggers sharing stories and memories of Rob.

It seems odd... shedding a tear for a man I've never met. But after having read Gut Rumbles for so long, I might never have met Rob, but I knew him. It was because of Rob that I started blogging. I don't remember how I originally found him, whether it was a google search or a link from another site, but I do remember spending a couple of hours reading through his archives. Rob would write about anything and everything, from the invasion of government and the coming nanny state to shitting in his pants. He put his opinions on display for all to see and didn't mince words when it came to making his point, not giving a damn who he pissed off or how many people removed him from their blogrolls. His blog was the first that became one of my daily reads and not too long after I started my own.

I had a situation about a year ago and didn't know where to turn. I needed to know something about a gun and didn't have anyone nearby to ask. I sent Rob an email and in about half an hour I had an answer to my question. Later he had posted that he'd like to take me shooting - something I seriously thought about when I had vacation time to burn. Now I'm incredibly sorry I never got the chance to meet Rob, whether it would've been an instructional meeting on how to shoot guns that he didn't own, or a shit story laugh fest (I must admit, I only have one good shit story which I'll share later).

Rob, your stories, your opinions, your voice will be missed.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Robert M. Smith
1952 - 2006