Post by Funkytown on Nov 22, 2023 0:26:13 GMT -6
So, I've been meaning to write something up about Works2muchguy for a while now, but I was struggling to find the words. Also, I knew I would cry, and, well, who wants to sign up for that? But it's been a month now, and with it being the week of Thanksgiving, I think I finally found a way to tie it all together.
Maybe.
This is definitely a first for the site, saying goodbye like this, but I wanted you guys to know a little bit more about Works2muchguy, who I've always known as Anthony.
Our friendship started because of the promotion I was doing for the site early on in 2014. Heck, looking now, Anthony joined within a month of starting this place. He wasn't as active as a lot of us OGs, but that's because he was too busy texting me. lol. In recent years, I'd remind him to "chime in on the site!" But also, he was at most of the home games with us... until he wasn't.
The last time I saw Anthony was when we left the Purple Pain get-together at Manny's that OdinHammer set up. Anthony was supposed to be there that day with Hammer, VikingsBoss, Danchat, A-Train, and his "Iowa crew" but instead he was in the hospital. When we left the dinner, we went to see him at the VA hospital. And that was the last time...
The time prior was for the season opener against the Bucs. Anthony was originally to go to a handful of games with us this year, but something fell through for the Bucs game. I'm glad it did. It was the last game he would get to attend with us. We have no idea how he made it to his seat that day, because when he rounded the corner, we saw a very, very sick man. We hadn't seen him in a couple months, so he was allowed to keep things positive. But that's when we knew. After the game, we walked him back to his car - arms locked - taking several breaks in between. He thanked us a million times, saying stuff like, "You guys are the best! I never would've made it back to my car without you. I don't have many friends, but the ones I do have are absolutely amazing! I must've done something right to have such wonderful friends like you." I just brushed it off. That's what normal people do, right? Anyway, he wasn't having it. The next several weeks, there were a lot of affectionate text messages like that, but also some real conversations...
With us being in Iowa, he could play tough and pretend everything was going well with his treatment and overall outlook. Finally, I just had to tell him to be real with me, because "I have two working eyeballs, and I know..." I explained to him that I didn't want to take time with him for granted if we didn't have much of it left. When he finally opened up to me about time and told the truth, he was gone within two weeks. And gone within 72 hours from starting hospice. It happened so quickly. That's how hard he fought to stay with us. His body was tired. It was tired long before his mind was willing to give in. That was him, though. He liked to keep things light. Had a one-of-a-kind sense of humor. He kept it til the very end, too. Heck, after the Bears win, he texted me about this site, "I swear some of the people in this forum could win a brand new car, then complain about the color of the interior. Ugh." LOL Was he wrong, though?
He passed away on our way up there to see him. I knew he would. That was so like him, protecting our feelings and all that. That's why he never told us. He didn't want to hurt us. It crushes my soul just thinking about that. He knew we were coming that day, because I had his friend read a text from me. Deep down, I knew we wouldn't make it. So I knew it was important to say goodbye. He was in and out of it, but the night prior to his passing (the very last time he was alert and responsive), his friend read my text. He kept his sense of humor til the end, and so did I. Just told him how much we will all cherish the memories and how much he meant to us. We'll miss him. We love him. All of that. And I also said that, wherever he is going, if he can't send us all the monies and good fortune, at least send me a freaking Vikings Super Bowl! He smiled and cried...
Another piece of this is that, over the summer, he came to visit us in Iowa. He wanted to see my new home. He had visited us in Iowa a few times, but it was important to him to see the home we just bought. He was SO happy for us. That was him. Just loved seeing other people happy and doing well. Anyway, when he was visiting, we gave him a gift: a personalized poem from us and a blanket with pictures of all of us from over the years. Something to have to remind him how much we care about him, even though we can't always be there in person. Anyway, after his friend read my text, he asked her to read our poem one last time. He also made her promise to leave that blanket on him. ...he drifted off not long after, and passed away the next day...
We did go see him, even though he had passed. Sure enough, our poem was displayed in his room, and he passed away with our blanket on top of him.
(I'm not crying; you're crying...)
He was a good friend for all of these years, but we got really close the last few. And it all started because of this site. I have very fond memories of us talking Vikes, him helping carry my Grandma down the escalator at US Bank Stadium (lol, don't ask), his visits to Iowa, all of the games we've gone to, and all of the dinners. He was a foodie! Speaking of, our last real conversation was how I was going to make him an egg sandwich when I came up to see him. I wanted to cook for him and watch some football together! His last visit here, I made him an egg sandwich that apparently he fell in love with. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I think I had to make egg sandwiches twice, because he requested another one before he went back to Minnesota. lol. I can't even tell you how many times over the months he brought up that egg sandwich. Even though he rarely felt like eating, he could always "go for one of my delicious fried egg sandwiches!" ... what I wouldn't give to have made it up there in time to make him that freaking egg sandwich he was talking about for the past four months.
I could go on and on and on about Anthony and our friendship, but if you're still reading this, you probably get the point. He was a dear friend of ours, and we miss him. Heck, it's been a WILD ride over this past month. And the one person I want to text about it, is no longer on the other end. And that hits me pretty hard every weekend...
In the theme of Thanksgiving, obviously I'm thankful for the friendship I had with Anthony, but so many others here. I did the math recently, and I've probably put in over a year's worth of my time into this place over the past 9 years. It was crazy to put pen to paper and really take that in. Needless to say, I'm passionate about this community and the friendships I've built over the years. No, I don't particularly love some of the nonsense, lol, but as a whole, I do value this community. So, if you're part of this little Purple Pain family, thank you.
Anthony is someone who I absolutely considered one of my best friends. But I've also formed some genuine friendships over the years behind the scenes with guys like VikingsBoss, suncoastvike, Josey Wales, SiteWolf, Danchat, Drank, Minnesota Vikingsons, of course my BFF Reignman, etc. Heck, even guys from other communities like knobby and JABF. Then we have the OGs who helped start the place: Oracle Bone Diviner, Minniman, Just Me, James, etc. Other guys I've met like diehardtwinsfan and Raptorman. The list goes on. I also really appreciate guys like Uncle, FSUVike, dauntessmallhands, MidwinterViking, whoskmoon, etc. - who are always teaching me something new about the team I love!
It's been quite the journey. It truly has been. Tons of Vikings games, draft parties, trips to Canton, etc. And, yes, this site since 2014. I've had a lot of good memories and have made a lot of friends along the way, but even if all I ever got in return was my friendship with Anthony, it would have been worth it.
Maybe.
This is definitely a first for the site, saying goodbye like this, but I wanted you guys to know a little bit more about Works2muchguy, who I've always known as Anthony.
Our friendship started because of the promotion I was doing for the site early on in 2014. Heck, looking now, Anthony joined within a month of starting this place. He wasn't as active as a lot of us OGs, but that's because he was too busy texting me. lol. In recent years, I'd remind him to "chime in on the site!" But also, he was at most of the home games with us... until he wasn't.
The last time I saw Anthony was when we left the Purple Pain get-together at Manny's that OdinHammer set up. Anthony was supposed to be there that day with Hammer, VikingsBoss, Danchat, A-Train, and his "Iowa crew" but instead he was in the hospital. When we left the dinner, we went to see him at the VA hospital. And that was the last time...
The time prior was for the season opener against the Bucs. Anthony was originally to go to a handful of games with us this year, but something fell through for the Bucs game. I'm glad it did. It was the last game he would get to attend with us. We have no idea how he made it to his seat that day, because when he rounded the corner, we saw a very, very sick man. We hadn't seen him in a couple months, so he was allowed to keep things positive. But that's when we knew. After the game, we walked him back to his car - arms locked - taking several breaks in between. He thanked us a million times, saying stuff like, "You guys are the best! I never would've made it back to my car without you. I don't have many friends, but the ones I do have are absolutely amazing! I must've done something right to have such wonderful friends like you." I just brushed it off. That's what normal people do, right? Anyway, he wasn't having it. The next several weeks, there were a lot of affectionate text messages like that, but also some real conversations...
With us being in Iowa, he could play tough and pretend everything was going well with his treatment and overall outlook. Finally, I just had to tell him to be real with me, because "I have two working eyeballs, and I know..." I explained to him that I didn't want to take time with him for granted if we didn't have much of it left. When he finally opened up to me about time and told the truth, he was gone within two weeks. And gone within 72 hours from starting hospice. It happened so quickly. That's how hard he fought to stay with us. His body was tired. It was tired long before his mind was willing to give in. That was him, though. He liked to keep things light. Had a one-of-a-kind sense of humor. He kept it til the very end, too. Heck, after the Bears win, he texted me about this site, "I swear some of the people in this forum could win a brand new car, then complain about the color of the interior. Ugh." LOL Was he wrong, though?
He passed away on our way up there to see him. I knew he would. That was so like him, protecting our feelings and all that. That's why he never told us. He didn't want to hurt us. It crushes my soul just thinking about that. He knew we were coming that day, because I had his friend read a text from me. Deep down, I knew we wouldn't make it. So I knew it was important to say goodbye. He was in and out of it, but the night prior to his passing (the very last time he was alert and responsive), his friend read my text. He kept his sense of humor til the end, and so did I. Just told him how much we will all cherish the memories and how much he meant to us. We'll miss him. We love him. All of that. And I also said that, wherever he is going, if he can't send us all the monies and good fortune, at least send me a freaking Vikings Super Bowl! He smiled and cried...
Another piece of this is that, over the summer, he came to visit us in Iowa. He wanted to see my new home. He had visited us in Iowa a few times, but it was important to him to see the home we just bought. He was SO happy for us. That was him. Just loved seeing other people happy and doing well. Anyway, when he was visiting, we gave him a gift: a personalized poem from us and a blanket with pictures of all of us from over the years. Something to have to remind him how much we care about him, even though we can't always be there in person. Anyway, after his friend read my text, he asked her to read our poem one last time. He also made her promise to leave that blanket on him. ...he drifted off not long after, and passed away the next day...
We did go see him, even though he had passed. Sure enough, our poem was displayed in his room, and he passed away with our blanket on top of him.
(I'm not crying; you're crying...)
He was a good friend for all of these years, but we got really close the last few. And it all started because of this site. I have very fond memories of us talking Vikes, him helping carry my Grandma down the escalator at US Bank Stadium (lol, don't ask), his visits to Iowa, all of the games we've gone to, and all of the dinners. He was a foodie! Speaking of, our last real conversation was how I was going to make him an egg sandwich when I came up to see him. I wanted to cook for him and watch some football together! His last visit here, I made him an egg sandwich that apparently he fell in love with. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I think I had to make egg sandwiches twice, because he requested another one before he went back to Minnesota. lol. I can't even tell you how many times over the months he brought up that egg sandwich. Even though he rarely felt like eating, he could always "go for one of my delicious fried egg sandwiches!" ... what I wouldn't give to have made it up there in time to make him that freaking egg sandwich he was talking about for the past four months.
I could go on and on and on about Anthony and our friendship, but if you're still reading this, you probably get the point. He was a dear friend of ours, and we miss him. Heck, it's been a WILD ride over this past month. And the one person I want to text about it, is no longer on the other end. And that hits me pretty hard every weekend...
In the theme of Thanksgiving, obviously I'm thankful for the friendship I had with Anthony, but so many others here. I did the math recently, and I've probably put in over a year's worth of my time into this place over the past 9 years. It was crazy to put pen to paper and really take that in. Needless to say, I'm passionate about this community and the friendships I've built over the years. No, I don't particularly love some of the nonsense, lol, but as a whole, I do value this community. So, if you're part of this little Purple Pain family, thank you.
Anthony is someone who I absolutely considered one of my best friends. But I've also formed some genuine friendships over the years behind the scenes with guys like VikingsBoss, suncoastvike, Josey Wales, SiteWolf, Danchat, Drank, Minnesota Vikingsons, of course my BFF Reignman, etc. Heck, even guys from other communities like knobby and JABF. Then we have the OGs who helped start the place: Oracle Bone Diviner, Minniman, Just Me, James, etc. Other guys I've met like diehardtwinsfan and Raptorman. The list goes on. I also really appreciate guys like Uncle, FSUVike, dauntessmallhands, MidwinterViking, whoskmoon, etc. - who are always teaching me something new about the team I love!
It's been quite the journey. It truly has been. Tons of Vikings games, draft parties, trips to Canton, etc. And, yes, this site since 2014. I've had a lot of good memories and have made a lot of friends along the way, but even if all I ever got in return was my friendship with Anthony, it would have been worth it.
RIP, friend. Love you. 
... and neither is this Chris guy.
