Post by Goldbrick on Jun 14, 2020 21:16:35 GMT -5
Friday night ,my friend Vern lost his fight with stomach cancer. We became good friends way back in 8th grade. WE put 100 thousand miles on his orange V.W., drank enough beer to float a battleship , did an " on the road " study of girls, pot, and rock & roll for a few years. we talked over all the problems two eighteen year old guys can have, and watched each other become men.
After we found our brides ,we grew apart; it's just life ,and I get it...
A month ago, I learned of his illness; his ex Brother in Law is a lifelong friend of mine, and told me we needed to visit while there was still time...
we went to his home last Saturday, and as sick and medicated as he was,he remembered all the crazy things we did ,and spoke of so many people we have known together ...
As he grew tried I reminded him of something he told me in one of our deeper ,and likely higher moments..."Look at your hands," he had said
"and think of all the people you'll touch in a lifetime, think of all the things you can build and fix...MAN!" "SO MUCH ENERGY, just in your hands"
Vern just smiled,but I knew he remembered. Handshakes and hugs are a thing of the past,these days, and the last smile we shared seemed very empty, but I'm so glad I got to see him, and I'm glad his pain is over...he was 66.
I found myself looking at my hands very differently today, I worked with a bit more thought and pep than I think I would have a few days ago...I hope that feeling never goes away.
After we found our brides ,we grew apart; it's just life ,and I get it...
A month ago, I learned of his illness; his ex Brother in Law is a lifelong friend of mine, and told me we needed to visit while there was still time...
we went to his home last Saturday, and as sick and medicated as he was,he remembered all the crazy things we did ,and spoke of so many people we have known together ...
As he grew tried I reminded him of something he told me in one of our deeper ,and likely higher moments..."Look at your hands," he had said
"and think of all the people you'll touch in a lifetime, think of all the things you can build and fix...MAN!" "SO MUCH ENERGY, just in your hands"
Vern just smiled,but I knew he remembered. Handshakes and hugs are a thing of the past,these days, and the last smile we shared seemed very empty, but I'm so glad I got to see him, and I'm glad his pain is over...he was 66.
I found myself looking at my hands very differently today, I worked with a bit more thought and pep than I think I would have a few days ago...I hope that feeling never goes away.
That’s why I don’t go to the moving wall, I remember how and when, I was a hard man when I was young, now not at all.