Finally, I would like to share with you something that happened here in my hometown, during the SmackDown! taping last Tuesday night. After the final match, Undertaker and Kane were in the ring, and I was told to go out and join them. I knew it had to be a joke and almost didn't go. But everyone insisted on it. Well, when I reached the ring I came face to face with the two men who have really been family to me, the "Deadman" and the "Big Red Machine."

The people were cheering, thinking that we were getting back together. But I knew different. My heart was telling me this was the last time we would be together in a wrestling ring for a long time.

What mixed emotions flooded through my brain, right in front of my hometown people and my family and friends. The lights changed to purple. Our old music began playing. The Undertaker dropped to one knee and gave me that old familiar salute that I saw in so many arenas, for so many years, all around the world. What a final tribute it was. Some fans gave me a few pictures of the "farewell," and I am proud to have one of them accompany this article. It is not the best one, but a picture surely is worth 10,000 words.

So don't get excited, you are not rid of "the fat man" yet. I will still be closer than you may imagine and you all know why. "Because I am Paul Bearer, and you are not"!

RIP

-PB