What an emotional week it’s been. It seems my youth is fading away. I still have the memories, but the legends of my younger years are slipping away.

I am a child of the ’70s when corduroy jeans, mood rings and pet rocks were all the rage. And the greatest band for a 12-year old kid living in northern California in 1977 was the Eagles. The music of choice that none of us could get enough of was the Eagles latest hit album, “Hotel California.”

Leading the band was Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Frey passed away this week at age 67 due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis. Much too young for a guy who appeared to many to be in excellent shape. Quite honestly, I had no idea he had been battling the debilitating disease for years.

To say I was stunned by his death is an understatement. For many of us age 50 and older, Frey and the Eagles are a huge part of our youth.

When the band broke up in the ’80s and remained so for 14 years, I was upset. When the band got back together with Frey and original band-mate Henley leading the way, I was overjoyed. I vowed I would see them live in concert and I had that opportunity in 2009 in New Orleans. The performance far exceeded my expectations.

I left the concert venue with an item checked off my bucket list.

When I saw via social media that Frey had died, I immediately thought it was one of those celebrity death hoaxes. Unfortunately, as I scrolled through my newsfeed, my fears worsened when I realized the news was true. I got a sick feeling in my stomach similar to the one I had in the ’80s when I heard the Eagles had broken up.

This time there is no getting back together and the world is an emptier place knowing that the harmonies of Frey and Henley will never again perform together live. My only consolation is that the music and memories he left behind will live on.

Rob Sigler is managing editor of The Oxford EAGLE. Contact him rob.sigler@oxfordeagle.com.