JANDINGO - CHAINSAW
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And how we met.
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"Stuck on You"
Are a very special kind.
They pierce your shields and see within
The corners of your mind.
They're always there when you're in need
With their power to discern
They feel your pain
They offer hope and genuine concern.
We bare our souls, expose our hearts
And show our inner fears.
And then before you know it
The keyboard's stained with tears.
And if we could see them through the screen
Then no one could deny
That a TRUE online friend is one
On whom we can rely.
ABOUT US
My Buddy Today I'm sad and my heart is broken.
I love you Buddy!!XOXO
Angel and Buddy
We began chatting online in ICQ in mid 1997. Soon it became an evening
ritual and we became the best of friends. We decided we wanted to meet
personally and in January, 1998 everyone gathered in Wisconsin and spent
a wonderful week becoming acquainted. During this week, what we call
Tradition began. It's now tradition sitting around the kitchen table
drinking coffee laced with O'Darby's Irish Cream and visiting, listening
to music, appeasing our appetites with chicken, ham, homemade cheesecake
and peanut butter cookies, and some of us playing practical jokes on one
certain person.
Several months later we knew we had to spend more time together, so we
planned another meeting for June, once again in Wisconsin. This time
outdoor activities kept everyone busy in addition to keeping with all the
traditions we started in January.
Our friendship continued to flourish and in October we spent ten days in
Canada. We visited Upper Canada Village, other historical sites, took
rides in an ARGO, and enjoyed a sumptuous Canadian Thanksgiving dinner.
Every time we are together it's becoming harder to say goodbye.
In February, 1999 there were only four of us gathered together. Some of us
enjoyed speeding down an icy hill on tubes, going to watch the Badger State
Winter Games Ski Jumping competition, sitting and relaxing, and going online
every night to chat with our missing friend. We had a good time but looked
forward to the next time we could all be together.
Everyone came to Wisconsin in October, 1999 and spent two wonderful weeks
together. All of the traditional meals were prepared and enjoyed. Each evening
was spent going on "Deer Rides" and counting the number of deer seen in fields or at the edges of the woods. We went out to dinner in Wausau and enjoyed a sumptous meal. To soon it was time to say goodbye again. We all hope we can get together before another year passes.
In 2000 we lost one of our friends. Jan and Chris managed to take a trip to
Canada in September of that year. Although nothing was the same we still managed
to enjoy getting together with Marc and his family.
Time has passed and it was four years later that Pam came to Wisconsin and the
three girls wore themselves out shopping, going to see interesting places, and just plain visiting.
Naturally we missed Marc, but there is always the future to look forward to.
Having true friends is a blessing. Friendship is something to be nurtured
and held close to our hearts, and we have found that, "The only way to
have a true friend is to be one." Emerson
We plan to have many more meetings in the future. Our evening chat
sessions bind us together and we intend to remain "Friends Forever" as
each of us cherishes a treasury of memories.
MEET THE FRIENDS
COCOTEA - Chris
Everyone usually asks how I came up with the nickname Cocotea. Well, I'm
pretty fond of reggae music, and my favorite reggae musician is Bob Marley.
Every year there's a reggae party I usually attend, and several years ago
I was assigned that name as my nickname and it just stuck with me. I actually
like all kinds of music, and since meeting Marc, I've been especially
attuned to bluegrass music.
I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I'm married with three grown sons.
My oldest is a manager of The Fire Pit Lounge & The Northern Lights Theater at the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, WI. He is married with one son. My second son is married with three daughters...so yes, I have three
beautiful granddaughters, and one very handsome grandson, all of which I'm very fond of!
My youngest graduated in May of 2004 as a Doctor of Pharmacy and is currently working in the Milwaukee area as a pharmacist.
I've
done a lot of different jobs during my life, including helping my Mom
(Angel) with her genealogical publications she did some years ago, but
nothing that ever satisfied me. In 1993, I decided to go back to school
to pursue a career in nursing. I graduated in February of 1997, and in
September of 1997 I started working one on one with a doctor in an OB-GYN
office. I stayed there just about 3 years. After the untimely death of my Dad (Buddy), I went through a difficult period for about two years. It really did take that long to get my life back in order, though I'm not sure everyone understood what I was going through at the time. I then worked as a nursing supervisor in an outpatient drug rehab clinic for 3 years. In August of 2005, I started working in a Dermatology clinic. The doctors and nurses there are all super people, and I am learning new aspects of nursing. I am hoping to stay here until I decide to retire.
Meeting Marc and Pam was one of the best things that ever happened in my
life, and I am glad for the times we had. Since Buddy's death, things have not been the same
between us, and I sometimes wonder how strong a friendship can really be. I guess that in my
own heart, the friendship is still there, and always will be. I always thought we became like a
"family", and I'm always hoping "Friends Forever" means exactly what it says. We haven't all
been together since the fall before Buddy died. Maybe someday we will all be together again.
MANDOMAN - Marc (Little Boy)
I always find it difficult to write these types of things, but I'll give
it my best shot. I live in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada on what I call a
"Hobby Farm." I restore antique cars and have a lot of interests and keep myself busy with a
variety of projects
I have going. I'm married with one son and two granddaughters. Together my wife and I
take in difficult children who need some direction in their lives.
I have been involved with music for most of my life, and get a lot of pleasure
out of playing my mandolin. That's how I earned the nickname "Mandoman."
I can play all stringed instruments but the mandolin is my favorite. In
the 1970's I used to jam in Cornwall with my friends, and soon after that
we formed the nucleus of our bluegrass band, Northwind. In 1992 we were
nominated Most Promising Band of the Year at the Canadian Bluegrass Awards.
In 1993 we made our first recording, "Time is Quickly Passing," which is
a collection of some of our favorite bluegrass tunes.
I enjoy spending some evenings on my PC relaxing with my friends. We all have become a
support system for
each other, and have found we can talk to each other about almost anything.
I'm very fond of Angel, and she likes to say "Watch it Little Boy" when
I tease her about things. Buddy was a good sport and made us laugh, and
Chris and Pam take great joy in pulling practical jokes on me, especially
when we're all together and I'm taking a nap. But overall, we're the
best of friends, and I feel very fortunate to have them all in my life.
PRETTY BABY - Pam (Chocolate Drop)
My name is Pam, AKA Pretty Baby, and I have two lovely daughters. I currently live in Jacksonville,
Florida and have lived here for about twenty-five years. My father was in the
military and my mother is German so I spent a lot of my childhood in
Germany. I work for the Federal Government. My interests are varied, but I love to read. I especially
like reading anything that has to do with history.
I don't have a story as to how I came by my ICQ name. I
was in the Q5 chatroom one night and people just started trying to guess
what the initials I used stood for and someone said Pretty Baby. I
decided I wanted to use that name and have used it ever since.
I first met Marc in Q5 and we became friends. I found out
that I actually like Bluegrass music thanks to him. I met Jan through
another friend, and we discovered that we both liked history. We have
had many discussions about our favorite books. Chris and I became friends
through Jan. We have grown very close since we first met and have found
that we can finish each other's sentences without even thinking about it.
Of course that usually means Marc is in for a practical joke. Buddy had
found out that I love chocolate and chicken and has taken to calling me
"Chocolate Drop." I look forward to each time we get together and realize
that when it's time to say good-bye it gets harder and harder. I'm
probably going to have to move closer to them one day so I don't spend a
fortune on airline tickets or become a member of a frequent flyer program
to get discounts.
I was very skeptical about online friendships when I first
started chatting with these four people. I have come to realize that
they are the very best of friends. It amazes me how we all know each
other so well. We know when one of us is not feeling well or is upset.
I feel very lucky to have found such wonderful friends online. That
doesn't happen to often these days even offline. I know this bond I've
formed with these people will last forever and we will be friends for a
lifetime.
JANDINGO - Jan (Angel)
Marc calls me Angel. Chris calls me Mom. Pam calls me Jan, and Len
called me whatever he wanted to because he was my better half, my soul mate, and the love of my life.
I lived in the small village of Iola, Wisconsin, home of the Midwest's
largest Old Car Show, for twenty years. In February, 2004 I left Iola and am now living in
an apartment in Muskego, Waukesha County, Wisconsin..
I was blessed with four children, six grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren. My oldest son is an artist now living in Taos, New Mexico;
daughter Chris (see Cocotea above); daughter Cynthia lives in Waukesha and has handsome twin sons,
and son Jon is also living in Waukesha and has a beautiful daughter. They are my pride and joy.
Our dog Sandy resembled a Dingo so I have
taken the nickname Jandingo. .
I have spent many years doing historical and genealogical research and,
in addition to tracing my paternal lineage
back to 14th Century England, have written and published numerous local
histories and genealogical periodicals. I am especially proud of being
honored by The State Historical Society of Wisconsin in 1986 and receiving
their annual Local History Merit Award for writing, "Station No. 66," The
Story of Iola's Railroad and the Preservation of It's Depot.
My
online friends mean a lot to me and during the past years
and I have found that "True happiness consists not in the multitude
of friends, but in the worth and choice" - Ben Johnson. We still chat every night.
Little Angel Heaven Little Touches Of Heaven
CHAINSAW - Len (Buddy)
The chainsaw was one of his most used possessions. Every year he cut up
about eight cords of wood, cut down and trimed trees, and occasionally nicked
the tips of his boots. His children called him Chainsaw and knew that his favorite
expression was "oops." In January,1998 Marc started calling him Buddy and after that
all his online friends did too.
He worked for Louis Allis-Litton Industries in Milwaukee as
a Mechanical Designer of small electric motors until he had to take an
early retirement.
He and Jan then moved from West Allis to Iola. For a number
of years he drove school bus for the Iola-Scandinavia school system and loved it.
As an out-of-doors person, He enjoyed golfing, fishing and
gardening. He watched all types of sporting events on TV and his favorite
football team was the Green Bay Packers.
For today I lost a special token.
His memory will live forever in my mind.
Because he was one of the gentle kind.
He spoke to me with lots of wisdom.
And now he lives in a special kingdom.
When he gets to the gates
And sees the saints
I'm sure he'll tell how His Angel paints
He'll look for a Goodwill and also a Fleet Farm .
Exit with bags of batteries in both arms.
He'll have a smile when he comes through the gate.
Cause he knows he can fix anything with duct tape.
He loved his children and was proud as can be.
And he showed them all by baking his cookies.
He provided his family as much as he could.
And kept them warm with all his WOOD!
He's the funniest man I ever met.
And one day he got those FRICKERS wet*L*
If someone changes the tv channels,
It will be a shame.
Cause I'm sure he'll yell MA
I can't watch the game!!!
I called him my buddy!!
And now I'm in awe
I'll always love you !!
MR Chainsaw.
Marc Lalonde Memorial Page
In it's brief course lie all the varieties
And realities of your existence
The bliss of Growth, the story of Action,
The splendor of Beauty, for yesterday
Is already a dream, and tomorrow
Is only a vision; but today,
well-lived, makes every yesterday
A dream of happiness and,
Every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this Day.
Such is the salutation of the Dawn."
Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3
Reflections