Hey there lovebugs, I’m currently in Colorado visiting family and wasn’t planning on recording so I didn’t bring my set-up. But today just seemed like the right time. So forgive the audio quality and read the transcript here in the show notes or on TawnyVoice.com under "Blog." Ibrahim the Mad was the final episode of the Dirty Bits Podcast. George, my soulmate, husband, and partner in every way, sadly lost his battle with multiple health problems on November 8th, 2019. I will still be podcasting but the focus is going to shift to dealing with grief and loss. The show will be titled “Death Is Hilarious” and is currently in production. I’m still releasing written content on my blog at TawnyVoice.com and you can still find sneak peeks on Patreon. I’m working on this transition while continuing my day job as a talent manager and voice over coach. I have retired from voice acting for the time being because it’s too painful without George. But I want to help others and I don’t want to stop talking about George. In the Greek culture and in what I can only describe as my League of Nations heritage and bizarre cultural mash-up, remembering the dead is so important. We tell their stories and pray for them to keep their memory alive or as they say in the Greek community George grew up in, “May his memory be eternal.” So I’m going to tell George’s story to keep his memory alive. I’d like to think that that movie Coco is a possibility and he’s surfing in the land of the dead. And I’m going to spend the next 60 years of my life doing everything I can to cement him somehow into entertainment so he’s never forgotten. I’d like to think that it’s a possibility I absorbed some of his energy and that’s the reason I can finally stand-up for myself and have more confidence than I’ve ever had. I’d like to think it’s a possibility that I’m not just being emotional and projecting and he’s actually still beside me in spirit. I also want to help people. I’ve been writing about the grieving process on my blog and Instagram. I have been overwhelmed by the outreach and feedback. So many people have shared their stories with me and have expressed how I’ve already done something to help. That means so much because the excruciating pain I’m feeling at losing the love of my life won’t be for nothing. At least I can make something good come out of it. In my new podcast, Death Is Hilarious, I’ll be speaking with other podcasters and artists on how they found relief from grief with humor and comedy. We’ll laugh, cry, and heal alongside your favorite hosts and entertainers from around the world. Subscribe on TawnyVoice.com for updates and follow me on social media and Patreon. All the links are in the show notes but if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing Tawny@TawnyVoice.com And now...George’s story, followed by the “Best of George.” A very special thank you to my editor Matthew Ramirez for doing his damnedest to clean up some really rough audio recorded in snowy Denver and creating such a beautiful tribute to George. When I was 12 years old, on my way to physics class, I saw this wildly cute boy with flippy surfer hair. I admired this flippy hair boy, George Platis, from afar between middle and high school. It took about ten years to finally meet him at a mutual friend's party. He asked me out.We fell in love on our first date.Three years later in 2016, we eloped to Oregon. It was magical and one of the best days of my life (I say "one of" because so many days with George were the best ones of my life).Shortly after our wedding, George's health problems began to hit him more severely. That was the beginning of three long years battling respiratory and cardiology problems that unfortunately claimed his life.On November 8, 2019, the love of my life passed away in our home we had just finished decorating. He had finally begun responding to treatment. We were making plans. Things were getting good. But his body just couldn't take anymore.Six years wasn't long enough to be with my soulmate and my best friend. I miss him more than I can describe. I am completely devastated and heartbroken that I'll never put my head on his shoulder again or wrap my arms around his big ole chest or get his opinion on....anything and everything really. He was my favorite person. He was so special. I'm so happy that even though I didn't get nearly as much time as I wanted to with him, I got so much more love than many people ever experience in a lifetime. I am so lucky to have been able to call him my husband and to share such absolute joy together.One of our favorite movies was "Coco." We watched it a lot these last couple of months. We used to tear up when Hector sang the song "Remember Me" to his daughter Coco. I used to sing it to him before I had to go home from the hospital at night. Remember meThough I have to say goodbyeRemember meDon't let it make you cryFor even if I'm far awayI hold you in my heartI sing a secret song to youEach night we are apartRemember meThough I have to travel farRemember meEach time you hear a sad guitarKnow that I'm with youThe only way that I can beUntil you're in my arms againRemember me I’m going to spend the rest of my life remembering and carrying George in my heart. And I’m going to make sure the world remembers him too. I have big plans guys. I think he’d be happy about that. Thanks for listening and goodnight. Love Always,The Witty Widow Follow the Witty Widow on Instagram Follow the show, Death Is Hilarious (was Dirty Bits) on InstagramSupport The Dirty Bits Podcast: Stand-Up Grieving With The Witty Widow and get exclusive behind the scenes updates and commercial-free episodes for just $1 a month on Patreon here. Your Patreon, PayPal (paypal.me/tawnyvoice), and Venmo (@Tawny-Platis) support cover the production costs related to the show and this website. Thank you for being a producer!