Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Another sad day

Please say a prayer for the soul of Craig McLay, 50 years old- I was with him riding today when he suffered a heart attack and went down on his bike and died.

Craig and I got sober 21 years ago together- ran into each other yesterday at the MA BIA meet (I introduced him to a few of you),we rode yeaterday afternoon, and then met again for coffee this AM at 11 to ride to this cool Native American burial ground he wanted to show me. We were riding some beautiful farmy country roads and suddenly he did a crazy twitch and the bike went down. At 12:20 I called 911, and at 1:15 he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

He had complained to me yeasterday of having had chest pain the day prior that riadiated to his jaw, but refused my insitance that he get checked out.

Please men and ladies- pay attention to anything resembling cardiac symptoms.

The gift is that this man passed doing his favorite thing in the world, and that it happened fast with no suffering.

So sorry to hear that. I met him yesterday and he seemed like a real nice person. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Sincerely,
Brian

Wow, Life can take us on some very strange journeys.
Peace be with you and his family.
Mike

My Prayers are with you and him.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Paula. My prayers are with you and his family.

Wow Paula I am SOOOOO Sorry to hear that!! I met him too, he was smiling the WHOLE day from what I saw!! Again, I am SO sorry...

I just don't know what to say.
Godspeed

Sorry to hear that. Like you said couldn't go out a better way. Beats wasting away in a hospital bed somewhere. When I go I hope it's in a similar manner. Ditto on Gods speed.

Of all of the things I have read here on the forum, that is the saddest thing I can recall ever reading here.

A rider down is a bad thing.

One of us down gets to all of us.

But one of our own out riding with another that meets such a sudden end is indeed a sad, sad thing.

One I know you will never forget, and never want to.

You'll be in my prayers, girl, along with his family and yours.

It's always hard to lose a friend Paula. Especially one with whom you share some personal history.
It's actually a blessing that you were able to be with him when he passed.
Somehow, I think you know this.

Grace and peace to you and his other friends, and his family.

Paula,

I'm so sorry, we shared a brief few minutes togther he was so freindly and sincere, Lynn and I are in shock over this just seeing how happy you were yesterday meeting him again after what 10 years.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Craig.

John & Lynn

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet him.

Big Poppy has a good point. You could take some comfort in the fact you had this time together right at the end of his time here. I know it doesn't ease the pain and nothing will but at least its 1 bright spot.

I can't add anything that has not been said,but please know that my prayers and thoughts are with all.

No words to offer...only prayers.

Very sad news indeed. My thoughts and prayers to his family.

Soren

Many prayers to you and his family. At least he went out doing something he loved.

Thank you all for your kind and caring words.

And Bigbill, you have it right- it was an honor and a blessing to be with him, and pray over him, and ask Divine Spirit to welcome him home. Not to turn this into a religious thread- but I was able to say the Hail Mary with his body at the hospital- which ends with "Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

It is not lost on me that we were riding to a Native American burial ground- we had just been talking yesterday about holy places on this earth that we had visited.

Thank you all again.

Quote:

---

it was an honor and a blessing to be with him

---

I can see that. My condolences and prayers are with you Paula.

My heartfelt condolances to his family

Trev

My prayers and best wishes to you Paula and to his family.

My thoughts are with you and his family

Thoughts and prayers. It's a very hard thing to go through. Looks like you were ment to be with him when it happened. There must be a gift in that, even if it's not evident while we all are on this earth.

Tali- there are gifts in so much of this tragedy.

I spoke yesterday to Craig's best friend and riding brother (we all got sober together so many years ago). The reason Craig was at the Mass BIA meet on Sunday was because Craig was rebuilding Dickie's old Triumph that he's had for 25 years, went to get ideas for it's restoration.

I was able to tell Dickie about Craig's last two days- all we had talked about while sitting at Purgatory Chasm on Sunday - two recovering alcoholics talk about some deep stuff - the beautiful riding, more talking and sharing about life and lessons learned over our sobriety over dinner and coffee that evening...I was able to tell him that when we met back up on Monday morning Craig was in a good space with his head and heart (very important to us sober folk) and about how, despite the tragedy, God's angels were present in every moment of how it all went down... in terms of an amazing ICU nurse "just happening" to be the 3rd car on the scene ( Middleboro is very big and rural- it took almost 15 minutes for the ambulance to arrive), how hard we all worked to recussitate while waiting for the EMTs,....how I yelled for the onlookers to pray for this man...how when I managed to find Craig's phone on the ground once the EMTs arrived and were working on him cuz I wanted to find a friend of his to tell what had happened- it just so "happened" that the number he had called before mine Monday morning- which I just hit, not knowing who I was going to get- was another old,good friend and his wife who just "happened" to live in Middleboro 15 minutes away and was there with his wife ASAP (Bob had missed Craig's call that AM, but the number was right there for me) so that there were 3 good, solid people to say prayers over him at the hospital when he was pronounced. Bob repairs and rebuilds bikes, so we were able to get the right kind of towing company to get Craig's bike back to Bob's garage.

Dick and I shared how Craig's death was really so "clean"- riding on one of his favorite loops, on his favorite bike, (he had 3) on his way to a Native American Burial ground. And as Martin had observed, there were members of his recovery circle holding the space for him.

His walk to his Higher Power was not a long one.

Paula. I have been away for a while. Sorry to hear about Craig. Sounds like a great guy and will ride with God.

Dave

Really don't have any words that will offer any help, so I can only offer my thoughts for you and for his family.

Today I finally finished the ride that Craig and I started. Perfect riding day, the sunshine, the early summer smells....Rode by the spot where Craig passed, put out my hand and shared a breeze.... Took the right we never got to, a twisty road and then-VOILA!- a causeway between 2 lakes....Found the Native American burial ground- gorgeous, right in the pine woods along a lake....very old marker stones, with recent gifts of stones, shells, coral, feathers, pine needle wreaths, and red cord at many of the marker stones.

Beautiful.

That's awesome!! I was thinking of asking you if you wanted to take that ride sometime, but I thought you might not want to. It sounds like a really nice ride, not just made that much more special. I've always found cemetaries to be so serene and calming too, and enjoy going to them. Yesterday after my grandmother's burrial service, my dad showed me his grandfather's stone, the man lived to 106!! You can learn a lot from those places. I'm glad you had the chance to go.
End ramble...

You've got true grit Lady. My hat is off to you. That had to take some fortitude.

What a wonderful tribute to pay to your friend. I am sure he was smiling and happy that you finally rode to that special spot.

Ride Safe.

Ryan

Thanks, Barry and Ryan. This ride "closed the circle" perfectly. The spot was so lovely- and I thanked Spirit for being there to embrace Craig as he fell and to carry him forward. The Wampanoag tribe is now on my list of favorite people.

Benny- thanks so much for thinking of me and this ride. Your grandmother passed? I'm sorry to hear....My care is with you and your family. A Gramma's love- it's as fierce as a mother's, but softened.

I am sure he was with you on that ride.

Paula,
I admire that you seem to be so at peace with all this.
The whole story shook me up quite a bit to say the least.
Uncle Charlie

Charlie-
Believe me, I've had my moments. Especially for the first few days after it happened, I was very shook up, tearful, and "spacey'....I am very blessed to have an amazing (small but amazing) circle of friends and family, and also very fortunuate to have worked hard to develop a spiritual core. My mother is a retired ER/ICU nurse, so she was wonderful to lean on; another very special friend is retired Army Special Forces- his sharing of personal experiences witnessing sudden death, and then also serving the duty of accompanying fallen soldiers home to thier families really helped me to feel supported and understood as I helped Craig's friends come to some (initial) peace and understanding- in some respect I felt like I carried Craig's "flag". My girlfriends have been wonderful......

I didn't write about it here (I don't think), but on the Wednesday after Memorial Day I went with Craig's best friend and his wife (both who had known Craig for over 20 years) to the site of Craig's passing. Another set of friends had already placed a cross, and the three of us spent a couple of hours there, clearing the area of trash, creating a special place in a very personal way, and sharing.

Craig's remaining biological family has some "issues" let's say, Craig's friends rallied, and we had a cookout in his honor last Sunday, which was very special. I think I may have written that we took time and made a circle and I shared some of what I've written about Craig's passing, and then folks shared and cried and laughed. Hearing and seeing the bikes at this cookout was very healing (desensitization ).

We all agree that Craig, as a man, might not have done well were he to have survived, perhaps significantly disabled. Too much of an independent, free spirited man. He LIVED his life.....At the BIAA meet we were trading life slogans- I told him I've finally learned "Don't waste the pretty." and he said that he'd finally learned "You get what you stand in line for." I roared at that one....several ways you can take it!

I really admire your outlook on life PAula! One of the reasons I've taken such an interest is that I know I have a weeeeeee little bit of native american heritage in me, and also I took a really cool class in college about "indigenous cultures" around the world, gave me some really cool perspective. Did a sweat lodge in NH for it too. Amazing. It really sounds like he had a great connection to the Mother, or however he identified with it. I hope to be that in tune some day!!

My point is I'm really happy for you I know I ramble sometimes... I hope we get to ride again soon!!

Benny- I studied a bit under a Wampanoag shaman several years ago, it added so much to my spiritual kaleidoscope....incorporated some Native American tradition into our time at the site Craig passed when we went there on that Wednesday.....remind me to tell you what happened with the dragonflies last week when I see you next-

I neglected to mention- my VERY bad- how special people's care (here and via PMs) has been. I've steered away from sharing much of this with the "why do you idiots ride motorcycles anyway" folks and my little corner in the BA.com village has been a very safe place.

Quote:

---

remind me to tell you what happened with the dragonflies last week when I see you next-

---

Will do! Just remind me to remind you....

We love it when you share PAula! Feel free anytime.

Paula,
Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Another person I had the disadvantage not meeting. As you said, he probably couldn't have asked for a better way to bow out. On the lighter side, congrats on 21 yrs of sobriety!!! That says volumes about you and the dedication to your cause and the people and things around you. Again, I am sorry for your loss! My prayers too are with you and his family.