I got bad news about an old friend last night.....

[liberalitch]

Witt's dead..... I had known him for 25 years. If anyone carried within them the seeds of their own destruction it was witt katherman.
I met him in high school. I had a cowboy boot full of quaaludes and he had a handful of cash..... he was two years younger and it was the punk/goth drug culture that brought us into the same group of friends..... As his obit. says he was the lead guitarist from the M-80's and he was probably one of the most naturally talented musicians I have ever known. For those fellow punkers.... the M-80's was one of the best fucking bands to come out of the Hampton Roads area.
Well, most of us out grew the stuff other than pot and booze, witt needed the heavier stuff (he thought).
Witt was from the kind of family that was in a constant state of denial, so when witt showed signs of classic bi-polarism and began to "self-medicate" with that heavier stuff they saw the drugs as a problem.... not the symptom.
About six years ago witt took a dive out of the window of the Jefferson Hotel, said he wanted something different. He lived, no one around him changed their actions, but now a constant prescription for pain meds was in the mix. (street drugs, pain meds, booze..... )
We moved in very different circles, but I still considered him my friend when I saw him at shows and stuff. I had been emersed in work and family, then yesterday my friend fred called and told me. I went on line and found his obit.
http://home.hamptonroads.com/obits/details.cfm?obitID=30347

When I spoke of it to others, the only witt they remembered was the drugged and drunken angry witt.... Wittdrawls.... the joke was.
Last night I had a dream about witt. we were 17 again and "inner tubing" behind the boat of another friend's parents (dottie). I dreamt of witt sitting in the inner tube waiting to be pulled, tanned in red birdwells, smiling and waving at me as the waters of the chesapeake bay sparkled and shined about him. I realized this morning when I woke up that.... that witt was gone too.

[auntAgonist]

1. Witt may be gone

but your good memories and the dreams will live on.

:hug: thanks for sharing.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. My hopes are that Witt is finally at peace. And what an example you

are, to keep a friendship through (in my opinion) the worst of situations. My heart goes out to you in your loss. Keep Witt there, in your heart...on that inner tube. :hug:

[liberalitch]

8. When I woke up.... I knew that that was the image I wanted to keep....

Although.... him pouring bong water on his brother's bed..... that was a pretty funny sight too.
Rob could kinda be an asshole....

[flamingyouth]

3. I'm really sorry to hear this

I've seen the M-80's live before and I have some of their songs on compilations. Sad. :(

[liberalitch]

6. Rusty (the drummer) and I were very good friends....

In fact it was through him I met witt.
Rusty is taking this.... not well at all.

[oneighty]

4. Red Birdwells

Brings back memories.

"Tanned in red birdwells, smiling and waving"

He will always be so in your memory.

180

[merh]

5. His love and the good memories will live in your heart.

I lost a friend with similar demons in July and wrote this
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=336x307

It helps to write down your feelings.

May Witt find peace and may you find comfort in your memories. :hug:

[newyawker99]

7. I am sorry liberalitch.

May your friend rest in peace.



:hug:

[bigwillq]

9. So sorry to hear of your loss.

He seemed like one cool dude. :hug:

[liberalitch]

11. He was different..... that's for sure.

[liberalitch]

10. Thank you all and.... if you know anyone who does heroin...

make them stop..... no matter what you have to do.
on edit: If a person is physically ill..... we want to cure their suffering.... their obvious pain and we take them to a doctor. Why is it that when someone is menatlly ill do some families insist on allowing this pain to go on?

[merh]

12. That is very hard to do.

:hug: You can't make folks change, they have to want to stop, no matter how hard you try, how much you love.

Sometimes all you can do is love them.

[liberalitch]

13. I know but I have to say try.... at least right now i have to

[merh]

14. I know, believe me, I know.

:hug: