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You made the correct choice, both times. *NM* HyogaRott Send a noteboard - 08/02/2017 04:06:05 AM

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A little over 5 years ago, in the fall of 2011, I made the decision to abruptly leave the RAFO/Wotmania community without posting the typical egocentric “goodbye” post. A few of you knew why. For those who didn’t, and are slightly curious if you care at all, my addiction to the website became so all-encompassing that my wife gave me an ultimatum – RAFO or her. Obviously I made my choice.

So why am I posting now? Because Laurel Ellen LaRock Piacenza, my wife of 43 years, soulmate, love of my life, and best friend, is near death. She has a disease called myelodysplastic syndrome with multilineage dysplasia. It’s a rare form of bone marrow cancer and is untreatable. She was diagnosed in September of 2016. Currently she is receiving home hospice care with a life expectancy measured in weeks.

I have kept my promise to never participate in RAFO again – until now. Am I breaking faith? I suppose. I hope if there is any form of awareness after death that she will forgive me. I had sworn to myself I would wait until she was truly gone, but the imminent demise of this site and what’s left of the community drove me to this compromise with myself. Yet even as I click Submit, I am torn with self-recrimination and doubts. Yet one more opportunity for an old man to reflect on his life choices with uncertainty and regret.

Because in the end, does any of it matter? I discovered the Wotmania website in the spring of 1998 and lurked on it for nearly a year before making my first post. From 1999 until I left for good at the end of 2011, Wotmania and then RAFO were integral parts of my daily life. But over 5 years have passed and who is left from those early days? As I post this today in 2017, does anyone still here remember me at all? Is it my most narcissistic move yet to presume posting this will matter enough to anyone to justify even a little compromising my word?

I don’t expect answers to these questions. I have none. Not even to the most important question of all: what will I do when she is gone? To that, like all else of true importance, I have no clue. I just know that if “love is watching someone die,” it’s the most painful aspect of love one can imagine.


This message last edited by HyogaRott on 08/02/2017 at 04:06:36 AM
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Everything dies. And everyone. UPDATE - 05/02/2017 06:36:03 PM 1373 Views
I remember you - 05/02/2017 07:12:44 PM 656 Views
Thank you *NM* - 05/02/2017 07:51:13 PM 418 Views
I remember you, loved your posts! - 05/02/2017 07:40:38 PM 704 Views
two grown children, one granddaughter - 05/02/2017 07:53:09 PM 733 Views
That's good, I can't fathom losing a soul mate..... - 05/02/2017 08:13:20 PM 742 Views
yes, I did. *NM* - 05/02/2017 08:27:09 PM 419 Views
Curious - what brought you to Wotmania? - 05/02/2017 09:12:40 PM 628 Views
long story and probably not the right thread for an answer *NM* - 06/02/2017 03:14:51 PM 415 Views
Of course we remember you. I'm so sorry to hear that. - 05/02/2017 08:33:55 PM 697 Views
Thank you, Paul - 05/02/2017 08:45:19 PM 609 Views
We remember... - 06/02/2017 02:10:35 PM 633 Views
Thanks Matt *NM* - 06/02/2017 03:08:31 PM 418 Views
Oh, mook. - 06/02/2017 02:18:10 PM 675 Views
I hope so - 06/02/2017 03:10:21 PM 685 Views
I can't even imagine. - 06/02/2017 03:59:28 PM 665 Views
I remember and I cherish - 06/02/2017 02:34:48 PM 718 Views
story of my life - 06/02/2017 03:11:34 PM 642 Views
I remember you and love you and trust that you are making the right choice. - 06/02/2017 09:14:36 PM 706 Views
yes I can and it's why I chose to post - 06/02/2017 10:35:13 PM 660 Views
<3 - 06/02/2017 10:46:50 PM 669 Views
Dani/Fan of Rolan/etc and I were talking earlier - 06/02/2017 11:17:54 PM 905 Views
that was back in Wotmania days - 06/02/2017 11:55:15 PM 755 Views
I approve, now that I know it was the cubs. - 07/02/2017 11:43:39 AM 612 Views
Hi mook, long time no see - 06/02/2017 10:07:31 PM 740 Views
Re: Hi mook, long time no see - 06/02/2017 10:36:26 PM 668 Views
Re: Hi mook, long time no see - 06/02/2017 10:43:04 PM 631 Views
Of course we remember. - 07/02/2017 04:44:58 AM 716 Views
Thanks, Tom - 07/02/2017 05:34:35 PM 701 Views
Hi, Mook. - 07/02/2017 05:22:00 PM 837 Views
Hi Jacob - 07/02/2017 05:38:25 PM 659 Views
I do indeed. - 07/02/2017 05:43:16 PM 788 Views
Hello. - 07/02/2017 06:46:58 PM 715 Views
thanks Jon - 08/02/2017 12:43:42 AM 649 Views
So sorry. - 07/02/2017 10:52:13 PM 693 Views
I appreciate that - 08/02/2017 12:45:37 AM 703 Views
Yes - 08/02/2017 11:26:35 PM 698 Views
IDK, I'm thinking of starting a facebook page thing - 10/02/2017 11:55:34 PM 730 Views
To Cannoli..... - 08/02/2017 02:17:45 AM 693 Views
You made the correct choice, both times. *NM* - 08/02/2017 04:06:05 AM 394 Views
Hi Mook - 08/02/2017 04:29:49 AM 784 Views
Re: Hi Mook - 08/02/2017 03:45:25 PM 632 Views
Very sorry, mook. - 08/02/2017 07:48:18 AM 620 Views
Oh, mookie. - 08/02/2017 07:35:10 PM 793 Views
UPDATE - 11/02/2017 09:57:57 PM 572 Views
Awwwwwww. - 13/02/2017 03:26:51 PM 632 Views
- 16/02/2017 01:51:44 PM 636 Views
Awesome! And it sucks she can't be at home. *NM* - 07/03/2017 09:22:43 PM 534 Views
So sorry to hear this, Mike *NM* - 12/02/2017 04:24:05 AM 375 Views
thank you, Dylanfanatic - 12/02/2017 05:17:18 PM 584 Views
Even those of us that don't visit that often (if at all) remember. - 16/02/2017 02:53:09 PM 672 Views
Oh, mook <3 - 18/02/2017 02:52:06 PM 1035 Views
I am so sorry Mook. - 23/02/2017 06:00:05 PM 678 Views
I'm so sorry to hear this - 23/02/2017 11:53:08 PM 925 Views
Of course I remeber you! You helped make Wotmaina what is was for me. - 07/03/2017 09:18:36 PM 658 Views

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