In a fandom as small as ours, the death of one of our own sends ripples that catches us all. From what I've gathered, Furp was an EMT, an would frequently be called on to assist when there was trouble. I've also read how he went to Iraq, and did a contract over there. He survived that, only to be killed by a drunk driver while driving his motorcycle. There's an sense of irony that he was taken away by the very thing that he would be called on to assist. A dark irony at that.

I didn't know him, but from the way everyone speaks of him, he's being mourned, and mourned heavily. I know he was on FurryMUCK, and I recognize the name he went by. Now I'll never get to speak to this fire_pyro online, and I think that's why I feel so empty inside. I've lost another chance to make a friend--a good one, from all the posts on LiveJournal or Twitter or FurAffinity.

Even the ones who hated him are feeling sad now. Is it because there's a feeling of powerlessness today? Death claims us all in the end. We know this. We can't escape it, and Furp's passing is a reminder of our mortality, that one day, we're all going to experience the Great Mystery of what lies past this existence.

As I said, I didn't know him, but I feel the loss. It hurts a bit, and I know how much it must hurt those who did know him, who loved him, who called him son, cousin, or even friend. I'm no stranger to loss, and I think very few of us are. I emphasize with all those suffering right now, but take some small solace that he's not hurting anymore, that he's past the pain. Comfort the living, the ones who are left behind with the pain of loss.

Goodbye, Furp. You were far too young to be taken away from us at twenty-nine. I hope if there is anything beyond this life, that you will be waiting for your friends and family, and perhaps those who might be a new friend for you.