'REMEMBERING RAFFA' REACTION

Chris Martin shares some of the response he got to his Martin Chronicle about the late John Raffa.

Nice job, Chris! Raffa would LOVE this piece, Man --

Thanks for giving it to us.

Dave Wallace

Chris - Just read your piece on John - To say the least it was eloquent and he would not have touched it...Well, he might have had you rhyme "foolin'" with "schoolin'."

Jim Kelly

I only met John once and that's all it was, we met, so I didn't know him at all. But your column helps me understand a little about how you and Jeff and all the other "old-

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schoolers" feel about him. Thanks for the insight.

Ian Tocher

Chris,

What a cool story on my friend John Raffa. Like I said on the net, John was one that the Lobotomy did not work on. An old joke about NHRA employees.

I am the bearded old fart with his arm around John at Bakersfield in 1994. You do not know me. I and Rick Stewart grew up together and raced out of Bakersfield. Loooooooooooong ago. A couple of old has-beens!!!

Thanks for the cool story again.

Wayne King
aka The Peregrine

Bernie and I are sincerely saddened by John's death. Like you, we thought he'd be here forever. We admired, respected and truly liked John. When he left ND, we made mention in "TGIF" (remember that?) that John was going to spend time laying on the beach in the sun. As he left the building for the final time, he brought in his copy of TGIF and tossed it on my desk. Written in the margin was this note, "Only hens lay." Mean John.

Please express to Karen how very much we cared about him, and wish her "enough".

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

We wish you enough,
Peej & Bird
(PJ and Bernie Partridge)

Hey Chris-man,

I didn't work directly for "Mean John," but I did feel his wrath on occasion prior to hanging up my freelance gloves and taking a spot on staff. He had gone by then, of course, but his scent was still lingering around the digger halls. Was he an influence on me? To the point that I learned not to type in all uppercase. But his legacy was sure a painted path to follow. He obviously had an influence on you. Perhaps in the same vein as you were to me (the smoking pot part aside, of course).

Wishfully never, but if the day ever comes, I'll aspire to pitch prose as well as you...

Nice words on Mean John.

Terry Cole

THERE'S ALWAYS ONE

Jerk. Can't even keep politics out of a half (only half) decent eulogy. I know Sean. You sir, are not half (only half) the man he is. You are, and will always be. . .an asshole. (A whole).

Rex Lawler

Yes, yes, it was all about Sean Hannity, Rex. (Ah, Mean John would have loved this one.) --Ed.

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