The Angel of Death Comes Knocking (Again)

Maybe the fact that I'm getting older makes me more aware of death. The grim reaper has come knocking 6 times in the last 6 months and he's about to come calling again within the next two weeks. Today, sadly, I learned of the imminent death of a good friend of mine. She's had cancer for a year now and just moved into hospice on Monday. Her sister told me her life expectancy was less than two weeks. My friend is only in her early 50’s.

A year ago, all was well for her. Then, suddenly, she disappeared. A few months later she called me to tell me the sad news—bone cancer. And it already spread, so it there’s not much they could do. During the summer, we went to Bastille Days. I picked her up at the home of some friends that were taking care of her. We stopped at her favorite booth at the festival. She bought some clothes because she had lost so much weight. The owner of the booth and her were good acquaintances going all the way back to the early days of the festival. My friend bought clothes from the guy every year. She explained her cancer to the owner. The owner said “hope to see you next year.” That’s not going to happen, but I will stop by next summer to tell him my friend passed away.

This Friday, her co-workers are having a “retirement” party for her at the hospice. Friends are also invited so I created a party invitation and dropped it off at her favorite downtown drinking spots (Flannery’s, Safe House, New Room Pub) where she is well known and respected. I also made a few phone calls to mutual friends to invite them. I hope a lot of people show up. She’ll probably be too sedated next week to recognize anyone.

Meanwhile, I’ll be working on my eulogy. I’m not sure what I’m going to say exactly, but I have a pretty good idea. I really admire her courage. She’s got her faith and has no real fear of dying. She once told me she didn’t care when her time came because she’s had a great life and doesn’t regret anything. Her spirits are amazingly upbeat. Her cheerfulness and laughter really floored me. I hope I can face death with the same intestinal fortitude.