One of my very dear mates, Khufu Tewosret, passed on, in August of 2001. He and I planned on sharing an Aussie stubbie (bottle of beer), upon my arrival home to Sydney, Australia, that September. Sadly, I could not get in contact with him, as he had stopped e-mailing me with his bawdy self-deprecating missives by the end of July...I sensed the worst. The day I flew back to the U.S., his wife called the cousin I had been staying with, to notify me of Khufu's (Grant's) passing over into the nether-world...how poignant to have missed our get together by just weeks.

This year, October, I made another pilgrimage home to OZ, and especially, did I visit with Grant's parents and wife, to share with them, the many missives Grant wrote me as he battled the very dangerous brain cancer that eventually took his life the year before. We shared lovely moments about a most intelligent man, who put on such a brave face, as he struggled with his disease.

He was a joy to argue with in "New Holland," and over the issue of reconcilliation, with regard to the Australian Aborigines; he made a strong and just case for it, and was at top form! He was great fun in his role at the 'Settler's Arms," and I know my other dear mates there, Sunny, Anners, and Hooz Shout, would have agreed as well.

Above all though, Grant/Khufu was a loving husband, a father to his wee 3-year old girlie sprog, and a clearly doted on son by his parents.

I will ever miss the repartee we both shared as the two of us bouyed each other's spirits as I too, recovered from the debilitating side affects of drugs and several surgeries to my shoulders, whilst he cyberly hacked and hurled from the deadly chemo-therapy that in the long run, took him from us.

You are sorely missed Khufu Tewosret...I truly hope I can measure up to yer code of ethics and high standards of which you did yer best to live by.

God speed you my dear mate...you are sorely missed!

Yer Aussie mate, who NEVER lost his Aussie citizenship, STRUTH, and I wish you could have known that! Haroo!

Tothie