There is another name worth mentioning:

Sir Zelman Cowen, our 19th Governor-General who passed away
on the 8th December 2011 at the age of 92, after having
struggled with Parkinson's for many years. He was appointed
Governor-General by Malcolm Fraser, after the sacking
of the Whitlam Government in December 1977 and he served
honourably in that office for 4 and a half years - until
July 1982. Sir Zelman was given a state funeral at the
Temple Beth Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.

He shall be missed greatly by not only his family but by
all who had the privilege of knowing him.

"Baruch dayan ha'emet."

Dear Lexi,

Sir Zelman certainly deserves to be honored and his passing acknowledged yet at 92 it doesn't have the tragedy of Hitchens' early death. Thirty years younger with a relatively new family one can only lament the loss to them of his love and to all of us of his intellect. I was looking forward to the civilizing and humbling influence raising children would have undoubtably had on his perspective. Instead it was impending death that served to "focus one's mind".

Joe Bageant was another taken from us far too early just last March.

It is hard to dispel the sense that both were only just hitting their prime.

Both towered mightily over the best of our politicians. Not that their ideas ever calcified. Hitchens' move from the left to the right is well documented but few would ever label it a 'flip-flop'.

Once when asked if he missed his 'Trotsky' days he said 'like an amputee misses his arm'.

Missing the bastard already damnit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo6a-GQchdg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7izJggqCoA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dear csteele,

The loss of a life is certainly felt accutely by
one's family and friends. Especially by a life
lost at a relatively younger age. My father
died of a massive coronary at the age of 52.
A family friend at the age of 20. Death comes when
we least expect it. No matter how prepared we think
we are if the person happens to be older and ill.
It still comes as a shock at the time.

Still, I remember reading somewhere that - to mourn
too long for those we love is self indulgent -
But to honour their memory with a promise to live
a little better for having known them, gives purpose
to their life and some reason for their death.

Dear Lexi,

Thank you for the sympathetic words but I'm inclined to let the black dog have a nibble as I think it would be a fitting tribute, that and a stiff whiskey or rather scotch.

My father didn't make 50 and identifying his body while still a teenager was one of life's more formative experiences. 

I remember at the age of 20 being informed that a 'cold solid nodule' on my thyroid indicated I likely had an aggressive cancer with the expected survivability to five years of 5%.

I knew exactly what the Hitch was talking about when he spoke of his diagnosis focussing the mind yet I didn't face the utter dispair of leaving behind a wife and children.

I like this quote from him;

"A life that partakes even a little of friendship, love, irony, humour, parenthood, literature, and music, and the chance to take part in battles for the liberation of others cannot be called 'meaningless' except if the person living it is also an existentialist and elects to call it so. It could be that all existence is a pointless joke, but it is not in fact possible to live one's everyday life as if this were so."

Perhaps we should be permitted, on the rare occasions like these, to wallow for a brief moment in the contemplation it just might.

Dear csteele,

Wallow away - we're all entitled to do so when
life becomes difficult - However, I don't imagine
that you'll dwell on it for too long.

I remember the shock I got when I was diagnosed with
bowel cancer sometime back - and I made the mistake
of sharing the devastating news with strangers -
because I was advised by my doctor to do so. Well I
was attacked mercilessly by someone who accused me
to be looking for sympathy. I wasn't. I simply for
looking for help in how to deal with what I was going
through at the time. But that's history now. I've
been in the clear for the past five years - and hopefully
it will continue that way. I do have some minor problems
still - but I can deal with those.

You're right - reflection does serve a very useful purpose -
and it does help at a time when you need it the most.

I hope I can be forgiven, for answering Lexis last post.
Look I was here, saw the whole thing.
It was raw,what appeared to me hate directed at Lexi.
I shudder still at the things said.
I can think of not one poster who I would not give my total support to under those conditions.
NO ONE.
Lexi now you have spoken of the nature of your illness I as always wish you well.
Until last Monday, it looked like that was my problem.
It may still be but I now know the dreadful pains and such came via a tiny little mozzie, and that time will make it better.
I often clash with some but think every single poster, no exceptions, would never go as low as that thread did.
We however can not ignore the poster may not have been in control.
Others we know here are sick too, I am sure each of us wishes them the very best.
Do not be concerned for me,what can be beaten will be what can not is just another lost fight, life brings them to us all.