I’m not quite sure if anyone still looks at this site, but even so it didn’t feel right to not post a final word. A thank you note, I guess.
I am “Kat,” Lex’s youngest daughter. In the bustle of the last few months my family and I have been neglecting the blog, unsure what the next step for his site would be. At some point, the domain expired; and while my father was many things, organized on the computer he was not. So after a series of jumping through hoops and searching through his computer I finally figured out how to get it back up. My family and I would like to keep it, as so many of you have also requested. On behalf on my whole family, I would like to thank you all for the support, care, and loving words about my father. It is nothing short of breathtaking to read the beautiful things you have all said and it means more than I can possibly express through a blog post.
Thank you all so very much.
Sincerely- Kat
Kat,
Thank you, and my best to you and your family. Reading his stories and writing provides me a connection with something I had lost. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.
Thank you again.
B
Kat & the entire LeFon family –
Thank you for ‘turning’ the key and opening the blog again. I’m not sure I can add much to what has been stated in terms of the absolute usefulness/utility of this site, for so many. It was, and will be, a living, breathing entity. If anything, I would reinforce the prior suggestions that, perhaps, some of Lex’s close bloggers make “guest” contributions, in similar spirit and fortitude as our former host. Also, I’m sure many of us would appreciate any contributions that you [Hobbit, SNO, Biscuit and yourself] might share.
Separately, I did attend the service and was both comforted and impressed by the LeFon family poise and bearing, as well as the overall assembly and array of association. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was uplifted and inspired at a sense of ‘triumph’; in particular, I will always remember the flyover and Mary’s hands and flag in the air, as well as SNO’s smile and warmth as he greeted greeted our group after the service (thanks Chris).
Lastly, following the service, one of Lex’s fellow bloggers and I decided to stop in at the famous Shakespeare Pub and Grill, to also help us ‘look on the bright side of life’, and, of course, celebrate with a Guinness (For Strength). No lie here, but when the perfect pint was served, the tap left a 3-leaf clover pattern. Have pictures to prove it. That was all the confirmation I needed to know that Lex is still around.
Thank you again. (You too, Captain).
Signing off with affirmations -
Guinness (For Strength). Jameson (For Courage). Lex (For The Effort).
Respectfully,
Steven
“Void”
Kat,
Thank you for your post, and for the work you’ve done to get the site back up. I think we all would have understood if it had stayed down – but I am truly grateful to be able to reread some of the posts I loved over the years, or to stumble across some I’d missed while in training, or deployed.
With sincere best wishes to you and your family,
Joseph
I hadn’t checked in for quite some time. I am very saddened by this news, and share (in a small way) your grief…
Kat/
I am sure today is a tough one for you and your family, but just a reminder (small consolation, I know) that there are those of us that can’t help but think of your Father every day with fondness and bittersweet memories of the stories and conversations we shared with him…but that we could reverse time! I’m fairly confident I can speak for everyone who was part of the Lex’s online life that our prayers go out to him daily and for his family as well..
Thinking fondly of your Father on this day and remembering his deep humanity and thorough decency,
VX
VX,
Well said.
Thanks, and Semper Fi.
Kat and family,
I never met Lex, but I felt like I’d known him for years. I enjoyed his writing and sense of style, but most of all I appreciated his courage to pursue the things in life that made life worth living for him. I applaud your efforts to keep the blog up, if only perhaps as a touchstone for your father’s loyal following to return to in a moment of retrospection. Lex is sorely missed.
All the best….
MTL
Glad to see everyone still stops by and that the site is up! Thanks, Kat!!!
Barco Sin Vela, standing by on Fleet Common…
Glad to see everyone still stops by and that the site is up! Thanks, Kat!!!
This is Barco Sin Vela, standing by on Fleet Common…
Kat (and family) –
Sincere and heartfelt thanks for turning the lights back-on here at Lex’s Place.
Like many others, I too left this site on my daily blogroll. And it was another sad day when I clicked upon it to find that it had gone dark. I knew it had to inevitably happen, but it was like rubbing salt into the wound created by his loss — as long as his blog was still there, we still had a little bit of Lex that we could access from time-to-time (selfish of me, I know).
It is the best possible tribute to him, his life, and his words, that you are bringing this place and community back to life. Thank you.
G-d bless you all,
John
To the LeFon family…
First off, my condolences. I’m sorry for your loss.
I still visit this blog and was saddened when the plug was pulled. I’m glad it’s back.
I never met Lex personally, but over the years and thru his posts I could tell he was one heck of a guy who lead a very exceptional life. His archives are joy to re-read.
I hope that one way or the other, this site will be maintained as an electronic memorial of the captain.
Kat, i’ll admit that i had given up for awhile there. your Dad’s link was always the first stop when i would make my daily journey into these intertoobs. gave up on clicking it first. gave up on ever even seeing it again. yet kept the link in my favorites….
…and i kept an old e-mail exchange from once when we(I) perhaps over-snarked another commentor. your Dad handled it with grace, while simultaneously acknowledging the “doofish-ness” of the whole matter.
….and now here you are. and rightly so.
oh yeah, i almost forgot. Go Army, Beat Navy. ( i HAD to say it)
I think Lex (and all us other navy vets) would disagree and take you up on that one
Kat,
First, my heart goes out to you and your family for your loss.
My law partner has apparently followed your dad’s site for a long while, and just referred me to the site for the first time today. I began reading it and couldn’t stop. As a new convert, without any personal connection to aviation of any kind, it occurs to me that these collected musings are so universally entertaining that they could be compiled into a very nice book. This would, of course, be an amazing tribute to your father and more of a permanent, tangible legacy than a website. Perhaps when the dust settles you might consider approaching a publisher so that others may enjoy your father’s writing, and so that his personality and legacy may live on. Just a thought. In any event, my condolences, and best of luck to you and yours.
Kat,
First, my heart goes out to you and your family for your loss.
My law partner has apparently followed your dad’s site for a long while, and just referred me to the site for the first time today. I began reading it and couldn’t stop. As a new convert, without any personal connection to aviation of any kind, it occurs to me that these collected stories and musings are so universally entertaining that they could be compiled into a very nice book. This would, of course, be an amazing tribute to your father and a permanent, tangible legacy. You might consider approaching a publisher so that others may enjoy your father’s writing. Just a thought. In any event, my condolences, and best of luck to you and yours.
LEX was heartily toasted last evening at Shakespeares…my crew wish we could have enjoyed his presence.
I confess the psychologist in me wonders where our grief and Lex’s legacy will head. I’m wondering if he will become to Naval Aviation what Chesty Puller was to the Marine Corps – though most of those here who have written knew him “personally” through his blog.
I suspect, as with many other things, we’ll each find our place with Lex’ legacy. We love him, we miss him, and the wounding is still pretty raw at this point just three and a half months out. Todd’s posting of The Daily Lex for a year will give us something to go with and discuss, and at that point we’ll have gelled our relationships into something a bit different. The Lexicans and Facebook are off to a terrific start, with many people contributing and participating. We’re still looking out for one another, and I suspect that’ll be the way of it for a very long time.
I dare say, that’s just as Lex would have had it.
Oh wow, I had missed that those were up – so I blogrolled the Lexicans. I’ll keep an eye out on facebook.
I honestly believed that as long as there are men like Lex, America was safe – though wryly, apparently God needed him more and I wish him the best.
I admit I’d just about given up. I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I’d checked. Your fathers musings were a touchstone for me, multiple times a day, and the url not found notices were heartbreaking. Thank you for restoring the site. I am so sorry for your loss. Great great good luck in the future for you and your family.
Kat, thank you for putting the site back up. Your father was really good guy. Is it you? ))) http://www.flickr.com/photos/95049486@N00/339810021/in/photostream
Didn’t know this was back. Thanks. I feel I owe your dad for his writing. I wish I could offer you something other than words. Words don’t fill the hole in one’s heart nor stop the tears. Don’t want to sound like a Hallmark card so I’ll just say God go with you.