because I no longer have vocal ability or control - weird! I can still play, but no better, or worse than before. My typing seems to have improved, though, since yesterday and I know where all the keys are, again.

Oh, Hell, gotta get in the shower and get out of here for my first, follow-up doctors appointment. (Guess they need the money.)

Gary

Take care, Gary! Sorry about the challenges you are experiencing and I admire the courageous way you are getting through it.

Singing was never an ability that I have and although playing music is a big part of my nature, lately I’ve been thinking a lot that people, their thoughts, what they are saying is something extremely essential; sometimes it’s overused or not used properly, but when it’s used carefully it really makes our life more meaningful, so with music or just with words you have a lot of tools of influence.

Sometimes I think that one of the reasons why I prefer to hangout here is the way people here talk; although it takes me some effort to read English, it’s rewarded with the things I read, and you, Gary, are certainly the one who makes a valuable contribution.

Gary,
I'm hesitant to write this, but here goes. I'm not a morbid person, and I hope this message is EXTREMELY premature, but I want to say goodbye to you. I've only known a few terminal patients in my lifetime, and each time I had the chance to actually say the word, I missed, or passed on the opportunity, so I'll not make that mistake again. You've been a great friend since day one, and a generous, knowledgable, source of help and information to many. I've enjoyed meeting with you, talking gear, and life's other oddities with you. I've enjoyed your stories, and pictures of your travels along your journey.

I'll repeat - I hope this is very, very premature, and we get many more chances to interact, but on the chance that time will not be as generous to you, as you have been with yours, I want to say that it's been a real privilege to call you friend. I think it's great that you're still finding the strength to post regularly, and play the keys. Music is an expression of the soul, and once you put it out there, the universe will continue to send it along to many more, who will be blessed by it.

I'm happy that your life, and career brought you so many great memories, and however much time you have left to continue making them, I'm sure you'll make the most of it. None of us are promised tomorrow, and many of us waste today, but you are an inspiring example of someone who savored life to the fullest, and I'm sure you will continue to do so until your last memory is made. Vaya con Dios, mi amigo ... I just hope it's not too soon.

Love ya, man.

REALLY????? "Via Con Dios" my ass!!.....
how unpositive to write this ....
instead of a positive hopeful message.
Gary ain't going anywhere any time soon...

Hang in there buddy be strong and live everyday to the fullest...
Remember it ain't over till it's over..you got this.

Donny, Donny, Donny....

Uncle Dave. Very touching and well put. I'M sure Gary will receive your post in the sincere way you intended it to be.

Kabinopus, you are a dear friend, and a very talented musician. I could watch you perform all night long and not loose interest at all. You really make those instruments shine for you and do them all justice. Thanks for your concern and I hope to hear more of your music in the very near future.

Dave, I really appreciate this gesture very much. So many body parts have recently went south, and more than likely, you are right. While I was typing this, the phone rang, I had to walk 25 feet to the other end of the basement to get my calendar and could barely make it back again - yep, it's that bad.

Donny, you have no idea how bad this can be, and though I would like to be optimistic, it's impossible to do so. I'll check out when it comes, but I know it will be sooner than later.

Thanks again, guys,

Gary

REALLY????? "Via Con Dios" my ass!!.....

Now thats funny, I don't care who you are. I bet Gary is getting a laugh out of this exchange too. Feel better Gary, you've still got a lot of music in you.

We all hope that no one's going anywhere "today" ... I just wanted to send some love his way before I couldn't. He posts some somber stuff, and I wanted to let him know that I'm, listening. That's all. I hear ya Gary, and that's all I'm going to add.
Team G - all the way.

Gary is more than a SynthZone buddy. He is a treasured friend. We've visited each other, broke bread, drank Honey Bourbon, played on the same stages at the same time. Bottom Line: Gary cannot check out without my permission.
Eddie

Dave, some may not understand your posts – I see it as a letter of love, it is what is in your heart, what you are feeling.
Gary, do you understand your precious friend Eddy, you’re not going anywhere until he says so. (smile)

Gary, if you have 10 more years, or if you have just tomorrow, you have done what we all want to do: we want to be remembered; You did it BIG TIME.

A touch of reality for all:
“If you have 10 more years, or if you have just tomorrow”, fits everyone here, so be the best at whatever you do; and that is Gary’s lesson to us.

Enough, he is here, and still pretty tuff, so let’s love on him.

John C

UD. I fully agree and very well said and not easy to write.

Gary has inspired me to make me a better player and his keyboard knowledge and never ending help to forum members.

I like to think myself as a distant friend to Gary also.

Gary and myself have together agreed which one of us gets up there first will save the other one a seat...Ha!!!

Best wishes from UK.

You all know you are my friends.
I don't have the guts to say what Dave did, but Gary has said many times that he won't be with us a lot longer. I hope and pray he is wrong and continues to beat the odds.

It would be wonderful if while we are able to say it and hear it, we could all just tell each other how we feel ... Unfortunately too much WHATEVER keeps us from doing it ...
In today's obit was a young man of 54 yrs who died suddenly, and a few people in their 90's after long illnesses ...
Truth is, NO ONE knows when our last second will be ... so just try to enjoy whatever life you have left ...

I just talked with Captain Russ, told him what happened and he was elated that I managed to make it past another hurdle.

Honest, guys, if I were to pass tomorrow, there is one thing I can can say in my Obit, "there is not much I have not done in this life."

I really do appreciate how you all think of me, well, with the exception of Chas.

All the very best,

Gary

Gary, for a long time I've said that "when I go, life doesn't owe me a thing" ...

This is difficult.

We don't know what tomorrow brings, so we try to live in the moment. Whenever your time is up Gary, and I hope it's years, not days, knowing you have great friends here on the Zone will hopefully carry you forward.

We are all going through this with you buddy, so don't leave us now. Stick around please, we need our Captain

Gary, you are an irreplaceable member of this forum. You have been an inspiration to myself as well as many others. I will enjoy your posts for as long as you're able to type.

Bless you my friend,
Mitch

+1

Gary:

This has to be a troubling and possibly painful time for you. I know you have been enduring it now for quite a while... with surprises at each turn. Just know how much you are revered here at the "Zone" and that you are always in our prayers. Your generosity is almost as well known as your talent. Take things as slowly and deliberately as life will allow.

Please follow Eddie's advice.

All my best, ----Dave

Gary, maybe you feel as though you lost your singing voice, but you’re still able to do so much. Glad to hear that you are still playing your keyboard, and your technical knowledge of Yamaha keyboards is simply amazing. Thank you for your willingness to always share your knowledge. Hoping for the best!

Get better soon! I hope you can enjoy all positive things each day has in store. All the best

Take care Gary,never put off for tomorrow what you can do today,
if you do it today and like it,you can do it again tomorrow.

Thanks guys and gals, for your kindness.

Gary

As Tony and a few others know here, my 93 year old mom passed away suddenly on Sunday. We just never know when and it's probably a good thing too.


Gary, I wish you the best with your health issues!

Thanks Steve and my condolences to you for your mom.

Gary

Hi Stephen,
Sorry to hear about your mom. I remember reading she wasn’t too well during Xmas period.


Gary hope you feel a bit better soon.

Rikki,

Many thanks! She lived a good life, 93 and she outlived both her side and my father's side of the family. Up until a few weeks ago she was driving and still playing duck pin bowling.

Steven...
my deepest condolences....
so sorry to hear about your mom...may she always R.I.P.

Steven, sorry to hear of your lose. It sounds like she lived a long and healthy life. Hopefully she didn't suffer in the end.

Gary, hopefully you will have a few more years with us. As to your not being able to sing, may be the best thing to happen to you. Now you can really concentrate on just playing the instrument. I'm sure you could produce even better music in the end. (hope I said that right!)

Donny, Thanks very much! I know you recently lost your dad so the pain of a parent is still with you.



Earl,

Thank you. In all her years she was probably only hosptialized about 4 or 5 times and it was nothing serious. She did not suffer we had family around her all day Sunday then at 7 she called me via her cell phone it didn't sound good. I live 5 minutes from her Assisted Living apartment and was there within 5 minutes. I got to say goodbye then had the front desk call 911 and when I returned to the room she was gone, so there was no long term suffering.


Gary, thank you!

Steve, I know in full detail how you cared for your mom and all you did to make her comfortable in the apartment even if only for a few days ... I know she was very happy for what you did ...

Tony, Many thanks I appreciate the kind words!

Much deserved ...

Steve- as I have said privately, so sorry to hear your Mom is gone but happy to know that she made the transition "pain free". A blessing for any of us for sure!

Gary - hang in there - as we both know, Old Sailors just keep going on and on! Best wishes for feeling much better in the days ahead my friend!

Randy, Thanks for your support!

Steve, no long-term suffering, is a gift we all pray for. 93 and still active, is another gift, there are so many people who just exist in the last part of their lives.

Something beautiful will be happening in the coming days; you not not be able to see Mom, but you WILL CARRY HER WHEREVER YOU GO. Her body is gone, but she is still very much alive in you.

I have days when I talk to my Mom about my hurting, days when I talk to her about life, and days when I just thank her for being so special.

Be well my friend, and act out the person that Mom wanted you to be, John C.

Uncle Dave,
I could not have said it better. I first got to know Gary on the PSRTutorial about 14 years ago. I was always amazed at how fast he would answer questions about a keyboard. There is no telling how many players he has helped throughout the years. I was also lucky to have met Gary and his wife and got to know him. Uncle Dave, I too have had the experience of not saying what I wish to say until it was to late - something I always regretted.

Gary, we wish you well and hope all turns out for the better down the road. Good luck my friend.

Deane

John, Thank you, that's a nice summary of her gift of a long and healthy life!

Steve, Mother's are extra special, and I'm sure you have lots of special memories to help carry you forward. Take care