Hello Mal,
My best wishes are with you and your son for the loss of your wife.
Walter's condition was touch and go for a while. He is still struggling but
is slowly recovering. Rebekah was injured in the accident and has bounced
back like only a kid can. If you search the list archives you can read all
about their progress. We receive updates through the list on a regular basis
from Walter's wife, Sabrina, a wonderful woman who is very capably handling
the family's affairs during this difficult time.
I have been collecting donations for the Walter Branch Recovery Fund since
the accident and the meteorite community has been incredibly kind and very
generous. Walter and his family have a long road ahead of them so I am still
actively seeking donations.
They need all the support they can get right now so please send your good
wishes to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . If you'd like to send him a card,
please let me know and I will give you their mailing address off-list.
Should you wish to donate funds, you can either do so through my PayPal
account to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or regular mail to me at 410 Spring Street,
Saline, MI 48176-2101.
My best,
Maria
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mal Bishop" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 2:50 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Just to say, "Hi" once again!
>
>
> Hello everyone once again!
>
> After almost a four year absence, I had an irresistible urge to again
> stroll back to the old
> neighborhood and see how much or how little it may have changed. It is
> rather refreshing to see
> many of the same old names I remember from the past, as well as some new
> ones, posting, along
> with some of the same in-family bickering going on that I so vividly
> remember from the past.
> Reminds me of one big family sitting around the dinner table with everyone
> fighting over the last piece
> of pie! :-)
>
> It is really nice to see everyone, or should I say read everyone, once
> again -- sort of like
> coming home after a long sojourn in the wilderness with all of its
> uncertainties and possible dangers, to be
> back in safer, and more familiar surroundings, albeit maybe a bit
> tumultuous, and testy at times, but never the less, still
> a feeling of kinship!
>
> I've been absent for the past couple of years from the meteorite list due
> to several reasons, but principally since my wife, Ava, passed away
> suddenly and most untimely in an auto accident two years ago this coming
> Monday, April 2nd. Personally, things were somewhat tough
> before her death, but at least she was there then to help smooth over the
> rough terrain, but after her death our one an only child, Gabriel
> (now eight) was my one and only true concern.
>
> Although my heart has always remained true to our wondrous, cosmic friends
> from above, I had to take a break from
> collecting, participating on the list, and even subdue to a major degree,
> my once burning desire and interest in reading and educating myself
> further
> on a once most
> passionate joy in my life. My son came first above all else, and a very
> unwanted adjustment period ensued with the loss of Gabriel's mother, and
> my
> best friend while trying to be both father and mother to Gabriel, and at
> the same time trying to cope with my own sense of loss and bewilderment.
>
> Anyway, I also wanted to mention how shocked I was when I rejoined the
> list
> a couple of days ago to hear about Walter Branch being involved in some
> sort of auto accident of his own! From the little information I've
> gathered thus far, it sounds as if Walter's daughter was involved in the
> accident as well,
> but that she may have faired much better than he had? I was just somewhat
> shocked and dismayed to read of this for I dealt with Walter on several
> occasions and found him extremely friendly as well as professional! He
> was
> top drawer as was everyone I've dealt with over the years on this list!
>
> I just offer up my best wishes and prayers for Walter, his wife, and
> daughter during this very tragic time in their lives! If anyone has an
> email address
> that is current for either Walter or his wife, I would like to directly
> email them my sympathy, and concern. Also, if anyone would care to do so,
> I would also like to
> hear how Walter is progressing!
>
> Well, in closing, I'm back to collecting ( already made several purchases
> from several dealers on our list and from my past), and on top of that, I
> have a very inquisitive
> eight year old who just purchased his own VERY FIRST meteorite (actually
> several :-) ).
>
> Hope all of you are doing well personally, and meteoritically! {smile}
>
> Best regards to all,
> Mal
>
>
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> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
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>
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