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In Fond Memory Mr. Josh Gaines
In acknowledgement of your
more than two decades of Deeply Loved Squaronian Josh
Gaines Passed Away of Natural Josh suffered a stroke in late May, 2007, and was hospitalized until sometime in the first half of October. He had another medical episode at home a few days ago, leading his Wife to take him to hospital, where he died sometime during the next several hours. Josh was 73 years old, born February 25, 1934.
Great Photo of
"Jumping Josh" Taken about 2-3 Years Ago by Isn't that just one of the greatest photos you've ever seen??? And that's jes' how all us fellow Squaronians and the rest of his Old Thai Hand friends want to remember him. If the quality of the above photo isn't good enough for you, here's another one of considerably higher quality -- and it will take a correspondingly longer time to download than the one above will (which is suitable for small prints, preferably made at a professional photo shop). Click the thumbnail below to open it, then save it from there.
Josh was a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force, in which he served 22 years. A veteran of the Korean War, he retired to Thailand in 1972 -- he had come here and caught what all Old Thai Hands know as "The Disease:" fell in love with the place and the people. Yeah, he fell in love. Besides family members in the States, he leaves a Thai wife and young look-krung -- half-and-half -- son who is seven or eight years old (I think). Josh was among the kindest, friendliest, most even-tempered human beings it has ever been my privilege and pleasure to know. A mutual friend approached me just now who has known Josh far longer than I have, and when I commented that I never once -- not once -- ever had even the tiniest conflict with Josh and always thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of the time we shared together, he ruminated on that, then finally said he didn't recall any crossed swords, either. How could he have? -- Josh didn't have a mean bone in his body. (I'm writing this the day before Josh's cremation, and though I recognize that he had a very decent run for a man of his generation, I'm sort of having to wipe away the odd tear or two.) Let me tell you a hilarious story in which Josh co-starred with his now-late Father (though it's just one of many stories into which Josh figures). Some years ago, Josh got a message from relatives Stateside that Daddy was on his deathbed, and saying he wished he could see his residing-in-Thailand son just one more time before Daddy went to meet his Maker. Naturally, Josh was distressed by the news, and post-haste made arrangements to dash off to Oakland, California, for his Father's final deathwatch. Shortly before Josh left, he paid a port call to the Square (to fortify himself, you understand!), and in response to being asked if his various relatives had been able to give him any sort of time frame concerning the length of time he might be facing before Papa departed, he said he didn't have a clue, adding that he therefore couldn't tell us anything. "Could be months," he said. So imagine my immense surprise when a week or two later I was sitting on the front porch of the Silver Dollar Bar when I saw Josh's car turn into the Square. It was The Man Himself (not Mrs. Josh). He parked, and strolled on up. Thinking his Father had already passed away, once Josh got settled and a drink in hand, I sympathetically asked if his Dad had really had passed away that quickly, adding, of course, my condolences. He got a disgusted look on his face and said words to this effect: "You know what? That lyin' ol' codger! I went ALL THE WAY over The Big Pond -- and for whut? -- NOTHING, that's what!" Both rather confused and taken aback, I asked what he meant. He explained that he had gone back, his entire airplane ride spent fretting about Daddy's pending passing -- but that after he had been there a relatively short time, Papa-san rallied, checked himself out of hospital, and took off to Chicago to visit some other relatives for a nice holiday! I'll put it bluntly, even on this PG site: I rolled all over the Square laughing my ass off. And I had several companions, given that a number of us were present! Yes, Khun Josh was Our Man. . . . From me, Buddy: I already miss the hell out of you. From us, Buddy: We miss the hell out of you. Rest in Peace, now, and forevermore. . . . * * * * * * * * * *
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