Lew Bundles Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Please allow me a few moments to step out of the Lew Bundles character for a minute(I will jump back in character later in other threads, but for now, from my “real” heart)...In April of this year, my dad passed away...He had spent the last year or two in and out of hospitals, but nothing was ever serious enough to question his mortality...Then, with no warning, he died...That morning was a tough one...No matter how old you are, you are never prepared for this eventuality...It hurt then and still does now...I remember, that on the evening of the day he passed, I was home, alone, as my girlfriend was out of the country and my family members were at their own houses, settling in the best they could...I remember the feeling of despair as I clicked on my computer looking for that tonic that would block the pain for a minute or two...That elixir was ec.com...I had been an absent poster for some time, but never an abandoned reader...That particular evening, I binged on old back threads, hoping for a reason to carry on...Bernie -just seeing the names of people I had met, never met and interfaced with, provided me with a sense of euphoria that helped me wade through my personal pain...Re-reading threads, posts, arguments, insults, jabs and general frivolity, brought me to the conclusion that happiness and comfort can be found in the strangest places...For me, ec.com was just that place...I debated whether to post of my dad’s passing or not, but there seemed to be a new roster of posters who may not have known who Lew Bundles was or even cared...But, just the calendar rewinding to the Sweet thread and all its sidebars(the invasion of their message forum, the imprisonment of Lew and the funniest post ever, Bernie’s picture of Obama with a “Free Lew” t-shirt) was enough to put a smile on my face, a tear to my eye and and the realization that there is a world out there, that through its sheer existence, could alter the state of my psyche at such a critical time... For all of us, it’s a blessing that we all seem to appreciate and hope will be there forever...But the key word is US...Bernie, I apologize if I have let you down, but there is a “we” here...and a powerful “we”...There is substance here that has been a remarkable positive force in our lives, and my personal loss has given me a clarity to realize to cherish some of the simpler things and appreciate them while they are still here to be enjoyed...Bernie, you stated that the message board has run its course...I, for one, know that just a few short months ago, it proved, for me to be a most valuable commodity still...If there is anything I can do to keep this forum alive, I.e.,money, time, commitment, then pencil me in...I owe all of you a debt of gratitude I can never repay, but God knows, I am willing to try...Thanx, from the heart, Dave Gallo... 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Benfer Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Choked up again. I never thought that would happen by a Lew Bundles post. Usually the complete opposite reaction. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Lew/Dave, Your finest post ever. Now I'm remembering your dad's passing, in mid-April, as we had a text thread going. With my dad now 86, I get sad thinking about eventualities, so your post choked me up. I'll see my mom and dad right after Christmas, so I'll be enjoying their fine company. For now... thank you, Sweet Lew! PS: Yes, that Sweet thread was so great.... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 I'd like to dedicate this song to Bernie, regarding the bulletin board here: 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kiwi Connection Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 When I joined this forum in 2006 little did I (and Muzza) realise just what it would lead to. Through the interactions of the people here we got to know (and meet) many great people and even attend the last WAB which turned out to also be Eric's birthday party. Muzza and I will be forever grateful for this forum and the people who made it what it became. Because of the generosity of so many people here we have been able to make 5 trips to the USA, stay with many and experience their generosity, families and day to day life which is very different to ours. Some of the lasting memories are the Soda shoppe (and Sugar), the Hayride and Hoedown, and the Prom! Other moments were Kholvn telling his stories and the many competitions. Of course attending WAB, Lew and Tunesy in their grass skirts, Jim, Barb, Eric, Suzy and Al arriving while many were watching the Sunset Strip DVD and us receiving our copy personally from Eric and Jim. What more could a gal from New Zealand wish for than to meet her teenage idol in person! SO..... thank you Bernie for all you did to bring very diverse people together in a way which brought so much satisfaction and enabled us all to feel like one big family! We will never forget the joy and opportunities that came because of EC.Com. Kiwi and Muzza 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aventurine Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 That’s so sad announcement for me, for us. Bernie, you know Darlene and Miriam sometimes said that “we are big family”. Yes, we were. When we were here, we chatted, laughed, angry like school girl or nasty boy. Then we got more and more independent. And cyber world had changed very short period. But it is “home in our heart” for us. Family member are not living here, though home. It’s so sad to lose home. When stop move active, it means death. It will turn into archive. Bernie, do you want to make an archive? Even hough Eric is living??? You said you will close the community. It means you given up to support Eric’s career and our dream, isn’t it? well, sadly I must say I’m guessing Eric want to leave music business, so he left here, he left in front of fans. I thought we should not chase after him. When I visited here, I felt so sad coz I was reminded of his absence, his retirement. I didn’t feel closeness to him day by day. ＜And the day turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into years, years turn into memories, the memory of tears＞…….just like Eric’s unreleased song “after you”. But we haven’t chat with Eric since he left here. We don’t know how he think about music now and what is he thinking about his act as a musician or a music world. I saw your pic with Eric and Amy. Bernie, you are the one who met him, who talk with him. Did you talk about the matter with him? If Eric want to be just a legend, the man who has great career but retirement personal person, I totally agree with your decision. But if Eric don’t want to be a sculpture of legend now, would you give us a chance? I don’t know how far we can go, but at least we have to give it a try. Well, you have to pay all the cost to keep the site now. You don’t get any donate from Eric recently and I guess donation is very few. If you think “I can't take this anymore”, " I'm not surprised. We all know you are such a giver, Bernie. I know we should not bother you too much Then would you give us a chance? I’ll make some suggestion. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Who can not love Aventurine, our sweet friend Naeko? What a nice post. You're one of my favorite people in the world, Naeko! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 While going through the previous topics, I found one of my old fundraising ideas and think that they are even more relevant today to help keep ec.com afloat...maybe if we all purchased one of these items, we can raise the money to help with Bernie’s expenditures to keep the door open... I have decided to develop a line of Raspberries merchandise but things went a little haywire...I contacted a company called “Tea-shirts and Stuff” and gave them a list of items to produce, but everything came back All Screwed Up...There is not enough time to have corrections made, so I will put up this distressed mechandise up for sale, As Is.....Here are a list of available items...No Returns and No Hard Feelings... ITEM #1...A beautiful poster of Eric, sitting at a piano, in a white bathrobe, with a locked keyboard and the caption -AMERICAN IDLE... ITEM #2...An autographed copy of his autobiography...I Really Wrote” Go All The Way” by Wally Crysome... ITEM #3...A beautiful tee shirt of Raspberries bass player “DAVE SMELLEY”... ITEM #4...A nice photo featuring our little drummer working out at a health spa entitled GYM BONFANTI ITEM #6...”Scratch ‘n Sniff Raspberries underwear made by Fruit of The Loom...The only problem-They are banana scented!!!...(These are currently sold out as they were all purchased by Richard Simmons)...He is re-selling these on his website to raise funds for his legal defense as he has been arraigned and charged with the murder of his partner by virtue of a premeditated groin pull that resulted in death...Stay tuned...If Dick is found guilty and is sent to prison, he certainly will get a book deal writing an expose on why they call jail “the Pokey”... If you are interested in purchasing any of these distressed items, you can pay using PLAY-PAL”...Bernie has opened up a special account in an east coast bank called First Viagra...acct# ou812...They are accepting deposits now...If you do not receive your merchandise in 6-8 weeks, you can have your deposit back...There is no penalty for early withdrawal... 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Thank you Bernie for your years of hard work driven by passion and love for Eric and his music. You, and the site, have been responsible for so many friendships, laughter, tears and joy brought about by the unifying, magical thread that is Eric and his musical genius. It was/is so awesome that all the ec.com members were not alone. You brought us all together to a "safe haven"...a home if you will. I cherish the friends I have made from all corners of the globe through this site. Even Cartmill! I am humbled to be a part of such a wonderful place. Booyah Indeed! 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Booyah! Well said. Totally agree about the "home" and laughter. In a high-stress world, isn't it nice to have a place where, as they said on Cheers, "everybody knows your screen name"? Speaking of which... tell me the origins of "Angelina." I think you revealed it once... Meanwhile, let's take a closer look at Lew Bundles' fundraising drive. Maybe that would do it.... Isn't it nice to see Sweet Lew back in form? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elle4ec Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Yes Craig, we need to start a petition to beg Bernie to archive the threads! Eric’s commentary alone is so entrancing and informative. I begged him on several occasions to write a book some day, as he is such a natural conversationalist and poetic genius. I’m getting “The Vapors” 😉just thinking of how he could intuitively use his sexy intelligence to draw a reader in and become lost in his storytelling. His musical knowledge and life experiences has provided nearly enough content here alone to write “Marathon Man 2”! Not to mention all the countless other fun and interesting threads, along with the heated debates by the members through the years! I think I’d feel like I lost a huge part of all our history here if the content wasn’t archived and available for access! Please Bernie, find a way to let us hold on to at least that much! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungryeyes Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 You guys are making me cry I will be back when I have time to post G 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Wow...Now we are wheeling out the Generation RX crew... 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Benfer Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Hey Lew. Thanks for finding that R.I.P. Craig Benfer thread. Loved reading through it again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Allow me the artistic license of substituting names to make things more relevant. At this time I am reminded of Diana Ross' closing speech during the 'Motown 25' special: " "EC.com is family. Maybe Bernie has felt that he’s never been appreciated for all his work. But, it's not about the people who leave that’s important, it’s about the people that came back. And today, everyone came back." EC.com was the home of too many good memories to list here - all because of our communal love for a music that touched our lives. That will never go away. It was Bernie's vision that fulfilled many of our dreams. For that, we cannot begin to say enough 'thank you's.' Regardless of your final decision on what to do with this Message Board, let it be known Bernie, that you brought a lot of people together for good reasons, and that's something many of us will never forget. Take care. "And the good times are the best times, the bad times fade away." - J Geils Band 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Bravo, Marvin...Your a good guy...But, we still invite you back on Monday to defend yourself in our lawsuit... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aventurine Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 I told that "Would you give us a chance? I’ll make some suggestion." My suggestion is this:You made something have high value with ec.com family and fans. Don’t you think so? Don’t throw it all away our fortune. How about find a way to take over the fortune to someone who recognized the value? I think there are best person to maintain the fortune. It’s Eric’s wife Amy. I guess she will manage the site very well. Please ask her ! It will be priceless gift for Eric! I tried to have a contact with her, though I couldn’t. If she didn’t want to get it, ask Eric. It’s great value to Eric Carmen Music, Inc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Just thought of another reason to save our beloved message board... How could we EVER live down the loss of our EC message board should those folks across the pond at The Sweet message board discover it's demise? Let's have a little pride, people!!! 😊 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neversaynever Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 There's romance in the sunset.... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 ...I'll post against the current to the end... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungryeyes Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 A few months ago I had a strong feeling this board would come to an end soon so I sent a message to Bernie. I explained I wanted to make sure I thanked him for EVERYTHING before the board comes to an end. We had so many good times here. Thanks for all your hard work and thanks to all the good people here. You guys are the best ! 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 It ain’t over til the fat lady sings...But, I do hear Tommy Tunes warming up his throat... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Benfer Posted December 25, 2018 Share Posted December 25, 2018 Bernie...just wanted to let you know that I'm not above begging. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspyrock Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 I tend to agree with LC's sentiments --- knew I'd not been by for a while and was a bit guilty about it. Life comes at us all fast, too fast. Hope the site can keep rolling for a bit longer so we all can catch up with each other. We all still actually have one serious goal left -- getting Raspberries into RRHOF!!! I think we can do it! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Wow....I’ve been here since the beginning. I think I’m member number 26. Thank You Bernie. How many times I have come here to keep up ....I will truly miss checking in. Thank You again..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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