October of 96 I got connected to the internet... I couldn't believe the endless resources I had for hockey when I started searching.  In my searching, I ended up one night on the Fox Hockey Board... and I posted a comment about the Penguins... I noticed then Meg and Fish's names were on there quite a bit... I emailed Meg to see if she was the one in charge of the board, but found out she was just an avid hockey fan.  The holidays came and I didn't get back to the board for awhile.  When I returned, it wasn't long and Meg and Fish invited me to come chat on MIRC with them, that is when I started to get to know Fish... and through the following months, our friendship grew... we didn't always chat a lot, but I always knew if I needed a friend or some advice he would be there for me.  He always had countless wisdom about many things.  One night when we were up chatting he told me about the lung disease that he had, and how hard it was for him not be active... but the computer made it easier for him to keep down like he needed to.  He knew his health wasn't good, but I never dreamed his life was in danger.

In Novemeber, my youngest daughter, Harley was hospitalized because she was having a hard time breathing... at the same time, Fish was taken to the hospital, cause he too was having problems with his lungs.  Harley only stayed for one night, and I was anxious for Fish to get home and talk to him about her breathing problems, as I knew he would be able to explain to me things that my little girl couldn't, as she couldn't even talk.  When he came home, he seemed to improve greatly... he shared with me how Harley felt, how scared she is when she couldn't breathe and many other practical things.  When Harley started up with trouble breathing again just a few weeks later, I didn't hesitate calling the doctor, to keep her from any pain she didn't have to go through.  By the evening they had her hospitalized and on oxygen... when I came home Fish explained to me the medicines she was on, the effects that they would give her... there was a special bond between him and Harley.

A week before Christmas, Harley got sick again... I emailed Meg and said, let Fish know that I'm taking her to the doctors.  When I got home, I had email back from Meg telling me bad news... Fish too was not feeling well :(  Harley turned out to only have an ear infection... but I didn't realize that Fish's was much more seious.  On December 24th I received an email Christmas card from Fish...

I sent a quick note to Fish on Christmas day... the next morning, my husband came down to wake me up... he said "you have mail from Meg... you may want to get up... Fish died last night".... the words still echo in my head... I still want to think that it can't be true... sigh... Fish was a great friend... I'm so glad for the time that I was able to get to know him... we had made plans to meet him at the hockey hall of fame in Toronto... but we hadn't gotten there yet... we will still go, and meet his cousin Beavertail... and I'll go pay my tributes to him then...and I'm sure shed many more tears... I miss you Fish... just wish I could drop you an email and say "hiya, how have you been".... think you could get God to put the internet in heaven :)  You know from MIRC, I was never good at saying "bye", and I'm still not... especially when I don't want to... you may have gone on before us... but you will always hold a special place in our hearts...
 

I can't find the poem I wanted to put here, so for now you get my thoughts in writing :)