Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 15:24:22 PM EST

commonmass has posted that GMB02 is being placed in Hospice care. He was able to say he wanted no further treatment.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/...
This is the link to the diary.

nannyboz :: GMB02 and commonmass: sad update

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GMB02 and commonmass: sad update | 26 comments

This is just so sad. (2.00 / 26)

My condolences to anyone who is affected.

by: Rustbelt Dem @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 20:35:00 PM UTC

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Thanks for posting here (2.00 / 17)

It is heartbreaking, but I can also understand and respect GMB02's decision, hard as it must have been to make.

by: Avilyn @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 21:03:10 PM UTC

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A very sad turn of events. (2.00 / 17)

We all hoped to see them happily married...sigh.

by: ursoklevar @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 21:39:36 PM UTC

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They did get to exchange rings (2.00 / 17)

So they were married in heart, but yes, we all were looking forward to the big wedding.

by: Avilyn @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 21:44:14 PM UTC

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Without causing unnecessary pain (2.00 / 17)

Can anyone explain to me the story of these two: they sound like a wonderful couple, but I'm afraid I have no idea why they had such a short time together, and why he is so young and yet so tragically ill.

The p***artist formerly known as 'Brit'

by: Peter Jukes @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 22:06:44 PM UTC

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Yes, and others may well add to this. Bill (commonmass) is a (2.00 / 19)

musician, organist and choir master in the Episcopal church. Recently he was jobless but did find work at a church. Somewhere in time he met GMB02, another musician, who is several years younger. They fell in love and became engaged. Living in Maine which legalized same sex marriage, they posted their engagement on DKos. We were all ecstatic for two people who despaired of ever meeting the right person.
Several weeks ago GMB02 went to the hospital with flu like symptoms, actually two or three times over several days. Finally GMB02 went back to the hospital, was admitted and went into rapid decline. He's been on dialysis as his kidneys shut down among other things.
Bill has been posting updates that many of us are eager for as this was a happy ending love story. Not now.
Over numerous years at DailyKos we've come to "know" one another and are all very sad for Bill and his partner, apparently soon to transition to death.
Thank you for asking Peter, I hope this answers your question.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 22:21:28 PM UTC

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It does, it does (2.00 / 18)

Thanks for explaining, though part of me wishes I'd never asked. What a terrible terrible story.

The p***artist formerly known as 'Brit'

by: Peter Jukes @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 22:39:03 PM UTC

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They met through Kos, as I understand (2.00 / 18)

at one of the meet-ups. And so their love blossomed in front of all of us, and they each wrote a diary about their engagement when it happened, and the community was really behind them and looking forward to the wedding (I think there had been talk about finding a way to liveblog or have some of it streamed on Kos, even).

commonmass's engagement diary and GMB02's engagement diary tell their story before everything went pear-shaped.

by: Avilyn @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 22:54:45 PM UTC

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Oh dear... Reading those diaries now (2.00 / 17)

Impossible not to do without tears in eyes. Such happiness. Too brief...

The p***artist formerly known as 'Brit'

by: Peter Jukes @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 22:59:14 PM UTC

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But there was that happiness, a great happiness, and I hope (2.00 / 11)

that commonmass can hold on to it firmly in the days ahead.

by: Portlaw @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 03:42:04 AM UTC

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Right Avilyn. We were also all wrapped up in where they were (2.00 / 12)

registered. Williams Sonoma. Gah!

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:28:04 PM UTC

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heh. The sausage stuffer attachment. :-) (2.00 / 12)

That still brings a smile, through the tears.

by: Avilyn @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:30:59 PM UTC

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Yeah, that brought lots of laughs. Damn old sausage stuffer (2.00 / 11)

attachment.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:34:12 PM UTC

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And, Bill was writing some music for the ceremony and also asked us (2.00 / 13)

to listen to pieces to use during it. Do you recall that Avilyn? I listened to his choices and couldn't suggest anything better.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:31:05 PM UTC

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On happy endings. (2.00 / 16)

When the first of the children of my entire peer group got engaged, she and her fiance were up at our place in Canada. We all got together in the library that night and I tried to find something to say to them that was not just a tired cliche. It may have some application here, though the time Bill and GMV02 had together was unfortunately short.

There will be hard times in your lives, very hard, but keep in mind that during those times that - if you are very lucky - some day one of you will hold the other's hand while they pass away. Between now and then do not allow small things to take away your joy.

I am so sorry that these two are having that time soon. I hope they have had joy in between. And I am glad that they are lucky enough to have each other when that time comes.

"Conway, whom experience had taught that rudeness was by no means a guarantee of good faith, was even less inclined to regard a well-turned phrase as a proof of insincerity." James Hilton, Lost Horizon

by: Chris Blask @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:07:21 PM UTC

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Words of wisdom (2.00 / 11)

thank you for sharing them. I've had 11 years so far with my husband, and I can't even imagine.

by: Avilyn @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:28:40 PM UTC

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Yes Avilyn, 25 with my Stan, we're each other's second. We're blessed (2.00 / 12)

beyond belief.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:32:51 PM UTC

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That is lovely. (2.00 / 4)

Thank you so much for sharing. I also met my partner well into middle age. And that is a sentiment that we are holding onto.

by: janmtairy @ Sat Feb 09, 2013 at 04:13:55 AM UTC

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So very sad (2.00 / 12)

"Hair on fire complicates the decision of how to deal with the knot in your knickers while clutching your pearls with both hands." ~ wordsinthewind

by: Khloe @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:41:24 PM UTC

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Oh Khloe it is. It seemed for just a bit that GMB02 might make it. (2.00 / 13)

Now, I guess not. Bill and GMB02's brother are with him, to be there as he transitions. Just so sad.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 23:52:16 PM UTC

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And his brother is an identical twin (2.00 / 11)

which makes things even harder. Holding them all in the light.

by: Portlaw @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 03:39:18 AM UTC

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Like a punch in the gut. (2.00 / 15)

I've been single for so many years that I can't even remember what it's like to be in love. And the boys' story was really a beacon of brightness that love can happen at any age, any time, anywhere. Now my heart breaks for them.

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 00:04:40 AM UTC

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I am so sorry. I broke my TTFN over at the orange place to (2.00 / 20)

leave a message.

by: blue jersey mom @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 00:12:53 AM UTC

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BJM, you know how much that means to Bill. He needs us all (2.00 / 17)

right now. Hugs to you, I know how you feel so strongly about your TTFN and many of us took it as a bellwether. That's why bunches of us are here.

"Pin your money to your girdle and don't talk to strangers." My Grandmom's advice when I went away to school. I don't wear a girdle and have never met a stranger. Sorry Grandmom!

by: nannyboz @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 01:05:21 AM UTC

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so troo dis (2.00 / 8)

by: kishik @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 14:30:06 PM UTC

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heartbreaking.. (2.00 / 10)