PNC-Minnesota would like to express our profound condolences to the family and friends of  Lonestar Pagan‘s, the Texas bureau of the PNC,  David Grega.

Yesterday, word quickly spread that David Grega, perhaps best known for his prominent role on the Pagan Centered Podcast, passed away after a sudden cardiac arrest. In addition to co-founding PCP, an irreverent podcast that garnered a large and appreciative audience for its no-holds-barred style, Dave also helped in the running and development of the Proud Pagan Podcasters, was an important early voice in the formation of the Pagan Newswire Collective, and co-founded Lonestar Pagan, the Texas bureau of the PNC. Dave was a key figure in Pagan new media, constantly tinkering, trying out new ideas and technologies in order to more effectively do the work at hand. He had a personality and energy that was almost impossible to ignore, and we are all poorer for his absence. – Jason Pitzl-Waters, The Wild Hunt

It happens that last Friday I posed this question on G+, “If you knew this weekend was to be your last weekend, what would you do?”   Little did any of know that last weekend, when Dave posted this answer, was his last weekend.

I already live every weekend like it’s my last.  Being in a car accident in 2003 that should had been fatal taught me that… now living with 2 unrelated diseases known to make people keel over and die at some point (and just put me in the hospital for a bunch of weeks) just re-enforces my mortality.

It’s an interesting week when one is saved via surgery from a close brush with death and then a week later is given a confirmed diagnosis of a disease many take to be a death sentence… and realizing my emotional reaction is more about “okay, what’s the treatment going to involve” rather than “ZOMG, there’s so many things I should have done with my life.”  Not because I’m an excessively results-oriented individual (which I admittedly am) but mostly because I manage to live without regrets, even if that means having a few bridge burning parties along the way.

If there’s something you’ve been meaning to do for a while, start planning to get it done.  If there’s something you don’t want to do – find an honorable way to stop doing it.  If someone needs something and you like them and you can more than afford it (and they’re not a needy do-nothing)… give it to them.  And for gods’ sake – don’t forget to tell people how much you value them before they keel over and die.  Funerals are not a particularly useful time to tell someone how much they meant to you.

I notice most people’s fears about death have more to do with regrets than anything else. – Dave Grega

You can read, and post,  more tributes to Dave on his facebook wall or on The Wild Hunt.  Dave was only 27 when he died.  He is survived by his wife, Kat DuPasht, their baby daughter, Mallory, and his mother.  Friends have informed us that they are hoping to raise funds so Dave’s mother can attend his funeral.  Once we have more information on how to donate funds and when his memorial will be held, we will update this post.

May Hermes guide you gently and may the Dread Queen receive you with honor.