Thanks for this thread, ASG. I would've hit the 'thanks' button, but I guess it's worn out from so many grateful members. It's nice to see so much appreciation for a very cool & very nice person.
I usually don't bother getting to know other members, but when Matt 1st joined & was getting slammed every which way there is, he would just let the insults roll off him. His self-confidence impressed me to the point of writing a PM to him & letting him know that I had no doubt that he was a stand-up guy who shoots from the hip. I told him that I believed him about his near-death experience & his escapades in Vegas.
We got to the point of calling each other almost on a daily basis...just talking about Las Vegas, the magic shops, his 'n.d.e.' & making plans about coming out to Vegas & hanging out. He was even lining-up a job for my son in 1 of his dads' magic shops. We were even talking about us moving out there. He & I instantly hit it off. He was born 1 day before I turned 18. You know how you meet someone & it feels like you've known 1 another for decades? That's the way we hit it off.
I never met him in-person, but I miss him a lot. I liked the guy & his death has saddened me immensely. He was quite the character & I'm sure that his death has affected many others as well. 1 day I do hope to meet him when I "break-on through to the other side".
RIP Matt