Dear Doug,

You know my thoughts & prayers are with you already & that I grieve at your loss. I know that Velma has been the integral part of your life that I have wanted a partner to be. This has to be very hard time for you. When you get past the arrangements & first adjustments, I hope you will take comfort in having been true to your marriage vows, for better or for worse, and having been a faithful life-partner to your beloved wife. catspaw, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for starting this thread. I surely would have done so, if I'd been at home. My message comes a little later than it would have, since I am still in Missouri without Internet access. David has been kind enough to transmit information to me by JUNO email & is posting this message in my behalf. Doug, I hope the thoughts, tears, hugs, & prayers posted here will help to strengthen & sustain you through the next days. We truly do care. You don't need to schedule it yet, but I hope that a trip to New York may be in your future. I very much look forward to seeing you face-to-face, offering you a *real* cup of black coffee or whatever, & sitting down for a good chat. Until then, holding you in my mind & in my heart.

love,

bbc (Barbara)