One of the best friends I've ever had and one of the best men I've ever had the fortune of knowing passed away on March 13. He was known to the online world as Taxula, to others he was Charles E. Perry, but to those who knew him, he was simply Charlie.
A man of many interests, there were a few things Charlie could be counted on to do. Write brilliant pieces on the Constitution and political and social issues. Be as rock-ribbed a conservative as they come. Come up with a great joke with the timing of a master. Rhetorically throttle anyone who advanced a weak argument for an even weaker cause.
Charlie meant more to me not because of his politics, but because of his influence on me as a person and me as a writer. He was someone who made me believe that I what it took to write a column for CommonConservative.com back when it was just The Common Conservative. He saw in me something I didn't see in myself and he never let me forget it. For that, I will be eternally grateful.
He and I didn't always see eye to eye. Like brothers, we fought and wound up on opposite sides of a couple of conflicts we shouldn't have even had, but I never lost my respect for Charlie.
Near the end of his life, he moved to Las Vegas to be with his sister. We didn't talk much after that, but when we did, it was as though nothing had changed. But we knew something had changed. He wasn't getting any younger and his health was failing him. But it never mattered. To me, he was always Charlie.
In what could be termed a final gesture of good will before he died, I donated money so my friend Resa Laru Kirkland (also known as Warchick) could go to the Gathering Of Eagles. I donated $25 for me, and chipped in an extra $25 on Charlie's behalf. Being a veteran, I knew Charlie would appreciate it. Even though Warchick didn't get to go, the gesture was worth it. I know he'd have approved.
Charles Perry was an amazing man, one who touched the lives of many around him just by being himself. Words fail me when I try to express just how much I appreciated his honesty and his encouragement. Even when we disagreed, he was always a gentleman to me, and even when I didn't return the favor, I knew he was right to take me to task for it. And I'm a far better man for it.
Thank you, Charlie. For everything.
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17 comments:
" taxula" or Taxy as I lovingly called him taught me what being not just an American but a Great American is all about. Charlie was a Constitutional expert. No one knew as much as he did regarding the Constitution nor did anyone have as much love for the document as Charlie did. Heaven help the liberal who would even attempt to tell Charlie that the second Amendment only covered the "National Guard".
No words can express the utter sorrow all of Charlies friends, especially myself feel at his passing.
The country has lost a great American,and I have lost my teacher, my best friend, and my confidant. but Heaven has gained one hell of a man.
As Tom so eloquently put it,
Thank you Charlie
For EVERYTHING.
until we meet again
Xenatroubl, ( Jodi)
Charlie was one of the first people I "met" online, back in the dark, 14.4k days of AOL 2.5. I had stumbled into the chatroom known as "The Cloak Room", which was just about the only political chat on AOL. He was there that night and the second I saw his screen name, "Taxula", I knew we were going to hit it off.
For those who have fogotten, he took that name from a classic skit on the Rush Limbaugh show. Count Taxula was a money sucking vampire from the land of Arksylvania, and he had a faithful servant, Algor. It was great insight into Charlie's politics, and his sense of humor.
My job back then was one where I could stay up to the wee hours of the night, and we often did just that, a group of about 10 or 15 of us. We'd talk politics, life in general, and try to make people laugh. Charlie and I had appointed ourselves as class clowns and we took our roles very seriously (har har!). We were a pretty good team, lobbing zingers and one liners back and forth like tennis players. One memorable time, we got Jodi (the previous poster, aka "Xenatroubl") laughing so hard she spewed Diet Coke all over her keyboard. Through her nose! We were ecstatic! I wish I had known about chat logs back then.
As good as I was at humor, it was pretty obvious that when Charlie was in the room, I was merely the understudy. He had a wit that I still envy, and his ability to turn a phrase was unrivalled.
The last time I saw him was in July of 2006. I had gone out to Vegas for a Pinball tournament (don't ask) and was really looking forward to seeing him. I think I knew that it would be our last meeting. He looked fine and as always he had a smile on his face and a joke at the ready. He told me that cancer will turn you into and indian because chemotherapy will give you (at this point he whipped off his baseball cap to reveal his bald head) "Apache scalp!" And no, for any uptight PC thought police out there, that is NOT a racist joke, Charlie was himself part native American. He reveled in his heritage but he also had a vast repartoire of "Indian Jokes".
There's so much to say but this isn't the place for it, I guess I'll have to get my own blog one of these days. For now all I can say is "Rest well, Charles Perry. On behalf of a grateful nation, you have earned it."
--Dave Olson
dolson6362
Forest Lake, MN
I've thought a lot about Charlie since I learned of his ship's passing. I remembered his brilliant jokes and mastery of online comedic timing, his wealth of Constitutional knowledge, and his willingness to make Limbaugh fans in the AOL Rush Room feel right at home.
I got to meet Charlie on a few occasions when he lived in Michigan. He traveled to Pennsylvania with us during a Rush Limbaugh/Common Conservative reunion and we couldn't have asked for a better companion. He was as warm and funny in person as he was to the online world as Taxula.
Godspeed, Charlie. I know your furbeasties assaulted you as soon as St. Peter swung open the gates.
Shelley Goodge
Former Common Conservative Writer
Waterloo, MI
JKARLUSMC
I MET TAXULA OR CHARLIE ONLINE DURING THE 2000 ELECTION CYCLE IN ELECTION CHAT 2000 AND, LIKE MANY OF YOU, CONTINUED THE ASSOCIATION IN THE CLOAKROOM. AS VETERANS AND CONSERATIVES WITH CORKSCREW SENSES OF HUMOR, WE STRUCK UP A LASTING CYBER FRIENDSHIP---OFTEN REFERRING TO ONE ANOTHER AS "MY BROTHER."
TAXULA WAS DELIGHTFULLY IRREVERENT, A MASTER OF INNUENDO, AN ARTICULATE AND WITTY AUTHOR,A CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR, ACCOMPLISHED AT "TREEING" LIBERALS AND, ABOVE ALL, A LOYAL AND RESPECTED FRIEND
ADDITIONALLY, TAX EARNED MY UNDYING RESPECT FOR HIS COURAGEOUS BATTLE WITH CANCER...HE NEVER GAVE UP NOR COMPLAINED NOR FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF. TAXULA OR CHARLES PERRY, YOU WERE A TRUE WARRIOR..AN INSPIRATION AND A FOXHOLE BUDDY..I WOULD RIDE THE RIVER WITH YOU ANYTIME. GO WITH GOD CHARLIE..HE MUST HAVE NEEDED YOU AS HE TOOK YOU BEFORE WE WERE READY.
KARL
Taxula was a rich combination of patriot, conservative, war veteran, friend, and I am sure, much more. I wish him a good rest.
Kate42
Charlie and I both hosted the News Channel. He was Harley and I was Wren aka, Gemini among other names. I always remember him as an eternal optimist no matter how bad his day had been. He talked fondly of his cats specially the one he named, Sophia. I remember the day when he moved to Vegas and I teased him about the gorgeous girls he will meet there. But, forever a flirt, he assured me I will always be in his mind while he oogles the ladies on stage!
Charlie, rest well and you will always be remembered here among friends.
Norma aka WREN
"He was someone who made me believe that I what it took to write a column for CommonConservative.com back when it was just The Common Conservative."
Too bad he didn't encourage you to take a walk every once in a while rather than wasting everyone's time with your literary masturbation.
Anonymous said...
"He was someone who made me believe that I what it took to write a column for CommonConservative.com back when it was just The Common Conservative."
Too bad he didn't encourage you to take a walk every once in a while rather than wasting everyone's time with your literary masturbation.
March 22, 2007 6:08:00 PM CST
As predictable as ever, One. You simply can't stand that a man has friends and you don't...
What's predictable is the fate of a dozen donuts after a lazy fat bastard like you waddles by.
Charlie would have appreciated the irony of having a tribute to him ruined by a low life liberal like you, however, I do not.
In case you missed it, this isn't about Tom and it isn't about YOU. this is about a man who was loved and admired and you have attempted to ruin it.
please discontinue posting to this board, do something RARE
SHOW SOME CLASS.
Xenatroubl
Well, it's a tribute to Charlie--so let's do what he would appreciate. :)
Every post fat Tommy makes is really about himself--that's why this blog is so terrible.
But let's make a tribute to Charles E. Perry--he's finally the best kind of right-winger. A dead one.
Anonymous said...
Well, it's a tribute to Charlie--so let's do what he would appreciate. :)
Every post fat Tommy makes is really about himself--that's why this blog is so terrible.
But let's make a tribute to Charles E. Perry--he's finally the best kind of right-winger. A dead one.
March 22, 2007 8:08:00 PM CST
Gee. I guess that's why "An Immeasurable Loss" is about Charles Perry, not Thomas Lindaman! ROFLMAO!
Gee, One. I must have REALLY bugged you tonight in the Podium. I mean, how DARE I point out that you keep posting to my blog, in front of all your faux liberal friends? :-)
Then again, you have to post to mine because you lack the courage to start a blog of your own and really show how bad a writer you really are. :-)
No class, No Clue, just unbridled hatred for anything you don't agree with.
Thanks for being so predicable, this is a great way to show other liberals how full of hate their side really is.
You do the liberals proud.
Congrats
Xenatroubl
Tell us more about how special it was that you dontated an extra $25 in what could be termed a final gesture of your immense good will. LMAO.
Anonymous said...
Tell us more about how special it was that you dontated an extra $25 in what could be termed a final gesture of your immense good will. LMAO.
March 22, 2007 8:30:00 PM CST
Jealous that you don't have that much money, One? Maybe if you got paid to write...oh wait. You suck as a writer, which is why you attack me, someone who is your superior in that area. :-)
Tom, your tribute to a fine man is beautifully done. It's a shame when people stoop to utter tackiness and despicable tardishness (you know what I mean) to take a jab at you personally. Keep up the good work, Tom!!
Rachael
I just found out today about Charlie and I am speechless. Charlie was living proof that conservatives do have a wonderful sense of humor along with intellect. More importantly than the politics, Charlie was a strong and beautiful soul. He suffered greatly, but never complained. Even when times were hard for him, he always had a way in making you laugh. A truly great man is measured by the impact that he has on others. Charlie touched so many lives, and I am grateful for the opportunity of knowing him as a friend. You will be missed greatly by all that knew you dear Charlie. Godspeed Taxy..I love you.
GOPbabe959
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