I have taken a while to respond here because I needed time to compose myself... to think about the things I want to say about one of the nicest people I've ever met... to be able to see the page through the tears. Although I knew that Ed was ill and that he didn't have a lot of time left, hiss passing was still a shock, much too soon, and I am sad that I will never be able to share the good times and conversation with my good mate again.
For those who don't know, I would ring Ed from Australia from time to time and we'd spend an hour or three laughing, joking and having a great time in each other's company. Now we may never have actually met in the flesh, but that did not matter, all the ingredients to become the best of friends were there... and we were exactly that... the best of friends. It was like we had known each other for ever, but then Ed was so good at making one feel comfortable with his easy going and generous nature, like I was always welcome pull up a chair and chew the fat with him any time.
Unfortunately, our phone calls came to an end when Ed became too ill to receive them, and although Ed told me via PM that he would inform me via another when it was again convenient to call, that PM never arrived, and it is for that reason I am probably most sad. I thought/think the world of Ed and would liked to have been able to let him know via the spoken word that my life was so much richer for his friendship. I think most of all, though, I wanted to thank Ed for the precious time he shared with me as a friend.
To Linda and Ed's family, please accept my heartfelt condolences and know that I am saddened and feel somewhat emptier for his passing.
