Copied from the Leonard Cohen forum:

dear friends

New post by ~greg on Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:44 am

I consider everyone who ever appeared in the old news group or in this
forum
to be my friend. You have all changed my life for the better in so
many ways.

And I need to apologize again to everyone for all the e-mails
and posts that I should have responded to and meant to but never did.
And I need to apologize for all my other inconsiderations. Which are
way too many to list,
but which will now be topped by the present bummer!

The truth is that my energy level has been very low, and has been
for some time. And now the further truth is that this thing has
"metastasized"
into stage-4 cancer.

This is a bummer. And I thought I wouldn't want anyone at all to know
about it.
And I considered not telling anyone at all about it. But it turned out
I had
to tell at least tell some of my relatives about it.

And, for me, I'm glad I did. They have been giving me a great deal of
practical assistance.

But much more than that. My not having to deal with this entirely
alone
turns out to be much more helpful than I thought. And this I think is
the
real reason I'm talking about this.

Over the last several weeks I have, of course, been through a crash
course about the kind of cancer that I have, and about my options,
(which are none.) And so my second reason for telling you
about my situation is as a backed-up warning to you to get check ups
and improve you diets and exercise and all that. And to try to keep
your
affairs in some kind of order so you won't have to do it all at once
if it
comes down to that.

~~

I certainly don't want this to turn into a thread of consolations!

What I'd like to see is a general discussion of health issues and
cancer
in particular, general knowledge and personal experiences, because the
subject is changing rapidly, and because most of us are of the age
when it matters.

Greg Ross's post in the "Wet Rocks, Friends of the Concert that Never
Was"
thread, where he changed to subject to "Perhaps A Small Recipe for
Comfort"
is what made me realize that my confession will not destroy the whole
world
mood of a Leonard Cohen group! That is my prayer anyway.

In a few days I'll be at the Washington DC Veteran's hospital hospice,
where I can be closer to my sisters. I think there's internet there.
In any case, if anyone has anything to say, please don't take offence
if I don't respond back immediately.

love
~greg

. . . the fact that he is terminally ill is difficult to process for me.

I'm thinking about visiting you, Greg. Would anyone like to join me?

I second Dar's thanks, Sean.  Were it not for you, I wouldn't have
known.

It is difficult, isn't it?

I'm thinking of visiting Greg when he's in hospice.  I'm thinking
about visiting you, Greg.  Would anyone like to join me?  Should I
bring cigarettes?  Champagne?  How about a cup of coffee?  Black or
with cream?  We could play a game like 'Filling out your living will'
or 'Who was your favorite person writing to the newsgroup in October
1997?'

I'm a professional when it comes to these matters, rest assured.

Copied from the Leonard Cohen forum:

dear friends

New post by ~greg on Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:44 am

I consider everyone who ever appeared in the old news group or in this
forum
to be my friend. You have all changed my life for the better in so
many ways.

And I need to apologize again to everyone for all the e-mails
and posts that I should have responded to and meant to but never did.
And I need to apologize for all my other inconsiderations. Which are
way too many to list,
but which will now be topped by the present bummer!

The truth is that my energy level has been very low, and has been
for some time. And now the further truth is that this thing has
"metastasized"
into stage-4 cancer.

This is a bummer. And I thought I wouldn't want anyone at all to know
about it.
And I considered not telling anyone at all about it. But it turned out
I had
to tell at least tell some of my relatives about it.

And, for me, I'm glad I did. They have been giving me a great deal of
practical assistance.

But much more than that. My not having to deal with this entirely
alone
turns out to be much more helpful than I thought. And this I think is
the
real reason I'm talking about this.

Over the last several weeks I have, of course, been through a crash
course about the kind of cancer that I have, and about my options,
(which are none.) And so my second reason for telling you
about my situation is as a backed-up warning to you to get check ups
and improve you diets and exercise and all that. And to try to keep
your
affairs in some kind of order so you won't have to do it all at once
if it
comes down to that.

~~

I certainly don't want this to turn into a thread of consolations!

What I'd like to see is a general discussion of health issues and
cancer
in particular, general knowledge and personal experiences, because the
subject is changing rapidly, and because most of us are of the age
when it matters.

Greg Ross's post in the "Wet Rocks, Friends of the Concert that Never
Was"
thread, where he changed to subject to "Perhaps A Small Recipe for
Comfort"
is what made me realize that my confession will not destroy the whole
world
mood of a Leonard Cohen group! That is my prayer anyway.

In a few days I'll be at the Washington DC Veteran's hospital hospice,
where I can be closer to my sisters. I think there's internet there.
In any case, if anyone has anything to say, please don't take offence
if I don't respond back immediately.

love
~greg

Does anyone know if greg's picture is in the Gallery of Beautiful Losers
on Jarkko's site? If so, which page is he on? Or can you post a direct
link here on the newsgroup?

If anyone has heard how Greg is doing please post.  I'm hoping he will
show up in the ng soon.
And, Greg, if you do peek in here, I honestly would like to try to
take a detour from NYC and see you.  And don't overthink the whole why
a visit from Dar.  Just go with it and let me stop by and say hi.  It
would be nice to see the guy who posted such amazing info all over
Cohenland for all these years.  It will be a good thing to do for me;
you know how that works.  Really.

I haven't heard anything yet Sean.  Abby has been great about a meet-
up in DC and figuring out a way to go see Greg.  Of course, it will be
up to him.
I hope he stops by or drops a note to someone he has stayed in touch
with.  Ania or Abby maybe?  I'm just going to keep him in my thoughts
and be ready for a last minute visit if he is OK with that.  Whatever
he is comfortable with is fine with me but I would like to see him on
behalf of lots of us here.   Hope someone hears something from him
soon.