So I dunno whether this belongs in this forum but I'm going to post it anyway
 

A good friend and old bar regular of mine is going to die tomorrow. He is 68 years old and is in stage IV congestive heart failure and has made a conscious choice not to pursue further treatment. The machines that are assisting his breathing will be turned off tomorrow at 4pm and I will be there until whenever.

So that's sad and all but that's not the point of this story. So Dennis mentioned to me a couple times that he "used to race cars" when he was younger" but never really went into detail.

Turns out, this is him:
Dennis Brown (USA) - Racing Sports Cars

So yeah, he wasn't a world beater but this was a guy who raced a Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix in 1965. How f'ing cool is that? He also raced an Austin-Healey 100m, a "Kelly Special" Porsche (what is this) an Elva and an Abarth Dumila (no idea what this is either).

So cheers Dennis. I am sorry I can't get the Speed network in your shitty hospital room or bring you a steak, beer and cigar (because the nurses won't let me).

I asked him today if he really drove a Porsche 718 on the track and he did the "pistol finger thing" and then flipped me off. I'm going to assume that was a yes (he can't talk).

Edit: Apparently, I'm told there are pictures of most of the races. I'm asking to be able to photograph them.

This is heartbreaking. Let me know if there is anything I can do. I have all day.

Ah there's nothing you can do but thank you for offering. That's very kind of you. There will be others there with him when this all happens. I am so bad at this stuff

Your even showing you care means you're handling it better than many. I'm sorry you are losing a friend. I'm sorry his family is losing a loved one. If I could, I'd smuggle a steak in to him, or whatever he wanted, just because he deserves to be happy in his last hours.

Sorry to hear about your friend. It sounds like he had an interesting life.

I think I'd go ahead and get him that steak and beer. Sneak it in if you have to, but you shouldn't have to. It would be pretty sh!tty of the hospital to deny him a last meal.

Give the man what he deserves !! And be thankful for knowing such a cool guy !

Update: the owner of the local outback has sneaked in a giant burger and I have beer coming.


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:tiphat:

That's awesome !!

Girlfriend sneaked the beer outside the ICU and we put them under my jacket and brought the assortment in. Showed Dennis and he looks and me and goes "**** man, I've been kicked out of everywhere but you are going to get me kicked out of a hospital". They turned off the machines and he woke right up, had a sip of beer and started going to town on a lemon Italian ice. I'm gonna go get dinner and go back but last I saw he was bitching about having Bravo on TV and no ESPN. His first words to me when they took out the breathing tubes (swear to Christ) was "how's the car?" Dennis is a good dude


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Should also mention that his super Christian friends did not approve of burger or beer. I give zero *****. Not a single **** do I give


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I don't think God will mind a sip of beer for goodness sakes. The guy is living his last hours.

Smh

Enjoy the time you have left with him.

I'm not knocking faith or anything but if someone's religion gets in the way of me having a beer or two before I tap out, I'm going to hurt someone


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Alright I'm headed home. Dennis has apparently decided he'd rather watch the caps lose and bitch about the fact that he's out of lemon Italian ices than embrace the great beyond. Love this dude so much. Told him I'd be back tomorrow (but the bat phone is active in case anything changes)


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I can only hope that I have that much class when my time comes.


Fixed. ;)

He told me he has albums of old pics with old race car drivers and celebrities. I asked Karen and Lew to pick them up for me when they can.


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Just a suggestion and a quick story: The role model that taught me everything about cars died very young (53), of cancer. On his final day I had him sign my drivers helmet, on the back with a sharpie. He too, was a bit of a local legend. We also hung one of his fire suits from a hanger in his room for everyone to sign instead of a "get well" journal. If he means that much to you, honor him by wearing his name.
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So I dunno whether this belongs in this forum but I'm going to post it anyway
 

Dennis Brown passed away today at exactly 6:45pm EST right after the rain broke and the brilliant sunset slipped below the horizon. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he timed it. I have been drinking pretty heavily which is unsurprising but I held his hand through the whole roller coaster ride despite the fact that he was the biggest pain in my *** ever while I was bartending. Rest easy captain, I miss you already.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...4c3b1d4a06.jpg

We had a ceremonial beer poured for him (which we all drank a little of) and his bar stool permanently blocked off.


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Good on you, man. You were a true friend. I think it's unspeakably awesome that you brought him so much joy in the last day of his life. Be glad you had the chance to get to know him (pain in the *** though he was) and also that you were such a ray of sunshine during someone's darkest hour. I hope wherever he is now, the Caps are winning while he enjoys a lemon ice. :)

Damn mark I'm so sorry to hear this man. You're a good guy brother we should all be so lucky to have friends and family present for our last moments.