They say old sailors never die… they just fade away.
As I sit here writing this, I can't shake the feeling that I’ve lost something irreplaceable. Something beyond value, something money can’t buy.
When I first posted Return to Sender, I received comments from many readers, but one stood out — a reader with the handle “Grumpyoldsquid.”
I always invite readers to reach out via email. Some do, and some don’t. Over time, I’ve been fortunate to build friendships with a few.
Grumpyoldsquid was one of them. He reached out, and what began as casual correspondence grew into a four-year friendship. Eventually, we moved past usernames, and I learned his real name, his passions, and even that he, too, was an author on SOL, writing under the pen name “Handyman.”
He told me about how he had taken up the torch to finish Oyster50’s OVERBOARD. That’s just the kind of person he was — someone who gave freely of his time and talent.
He was immensely proud of his service as a nuclear submariner in the US Navy, a role that defined much of his character — dedicated, resilient, and steadfast. Though I can’t share his name, I can tell you he was a man who lived with purpose and left a legacy that touched many.
But on August 8th, 2024, Grumpyoldsquid embarked on his final voyage — the eternal journey across the great ocean. I was glad I retired Grumpy Charley while he was still with us. He was so amused that I based Grumpy Charley on him. One reader asked me once: “What happened to Grumpy Charley?” And I replied: “He’s on vacation.” To which Grumpyoldsquid mailed me: “Where did I go on vacation. How did I get there, and who am I with? LOL!”
To say I am deeply saddened doesn’t begin to cover it. I’ve lost not just a reader, but a dear friend — someone whose voice I never heard, whose face I never saw, yet whose presence was always felt.
So, I’ll never get an email from Virginia Beach, USA. I’ll never see a Grumpyoldsquid comment on my stories, or read a Handyman story again…
Rest your oars now, my friend. May the wind be forever at your back, and the waters calm. Godspeed at your new Task Force.
One day, this pilot might land on a carrier near you…