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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 1378 Views
I remember you - 05/02/2017 07:12:44 PM 657 Views
Thank you *NM* - 05/02/2017 07:51:13 PM 419 Views
I remember you, loved your posts! - 05/02/2017 07:40:38 PM 706 Views
two grown children, one granddaughter - 05/02/2017 07:53:09 PM 734 Views
That's good, I can't fathom losing a soul mate..... - 05/02/2017 08:13:20 PM 745 Views
yes, I did. *NM* - 05/02/2017 08:27:09 PM 420 Views
Curious - what brought you to Wotmania? - 05/02/2017 09:12:40 PM 630 Views
long story and probably not the right thread for an answer *NM* - 06/02/2017 03:14:51 PM 417 Views
Of course we remember you. I'm so sorry to hear that. - 05/02/2017 08:33:55 PM 698 Views
Thank you, Paul - 05/02/2017 08:45:19 PM 613 Views
We remember... - 06/02/2017 02:10:35 PM 635 Views
Thanks Matt *NM* - 06/02/2017 03:08:31 PM 420 Views
Oh, mook. - 06/02/2017 02:18:10 PM 679 Views
I hope so - 06/02/2017 03:10:21 PM 686 Views
I can't even imagine. - 06/02/2017 03:59:28 PM 670 Views
I remember and I cherish - 06/02/2017 02:34:48 PM 720 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 707 Views
yes I can and it's why I chose to post - 06/02/2017 10:35:13 PM 662 Views
<3 - 06/02/2017 10:46:50 PM 671 Views
Dani/Fan of Rolan/etc and I were talking earlier - 06/02/2017 11:17:54 PM 910 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 614 Views
Hi mook, long time no see - 06/02/2017 10:07:31 PM 743 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 633 Views
Of course we remember. - 07/02/2017 04:44:58 AM 718 Views
Thanks, Tom - 07/02/2017 05:34:35 PM 702 Views
Hi, Mook. - 07/02/2017 05:22:00 PM 840 Views
Hi Jacob - 07/02/2017 05:38:25 PM 660 Views
I do indeed. - 07/02/2017 05:43:16 PM 790 Views
Hello. - 07/02/2017 06:46:58 PM 716 Views
thanks Jon - 08/02/2017 12:43:42 AM 650 Views
So sorry. - 07/02/2017 10:52:13 PM 694 Views
I appreciate that - 08/02/2017 12:45:37 AM 706 Views
Yes - 08/02/2017 11:26:35 PM 699 Views
IDK, I'm thinking of starting a facebook page thing - 10/02/2017 11:55:34 PM 733 Views
To Cannoli..... - 08/02/2017 02:17:45 AM 695 Views
You made the correct choice, both times. *NM* - 08/02/2017 04:06:05 AM 395 Views
Hi Mook - 08/02/2017 04:29:49 AM 786 Views
Re: Hi Mook - 08/02/2017 03:45:25 PM 632 Views
Very sorry, mook. - 08/02/2017 07:48:18 AM 622 Views
Oh, mookie. - 08/02/2017 07:35:10 PM 794 Views
UPDATE - 11/02/2017 09:57:57 PM 573 Views
Awwwwwww. - 13/02/2017 03:26:51 PM 636 Views
- 16/02/2017 01:51:44 PM 639 Views
Awesome! And it sucks she can't be at home. *NM* - 07/03/2017 09:22:43 PM 537 Views
So sorry to hear this, Mike *NM* - 12/02/2017 04:24:05 AM 376 Views
thank you, Dylanfanatic - 12/02/2017 05:17:18 PM 586 Views
Even those of us that don't visit that often (if at all) remember. - 16/02/2017 02:53:09 PM 674 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 682 Views
I'm so sorry to hear this - 23/02/2017 11:53:08 PM 928 Views
Of course I remeber you! You helped make Wotmaina what is was for me. - 07/03/2017 09:18:36 PM 662 Views

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