Thanks to the miracles of technology, I was part of the death bed vigil in California.
Text messages, Facebook IM's from the bedside. Dear friends served by proxy - held his hand and told him I loved him. I could just hug their necks for that; it meant more than I can say.
My eyes are practically swollen shut from crying. (I do not look good when I cry. Some people do. That damn cheap Irish/Scandinavian complexion. Just turns red.)
Anyway, no more suffering, no more pain.
Safe journey Mountain Man. We'll light up a few cigars in your honor.
"Paradise is exactly like where you are right now... only much, much better." -- Laurie Anderson
Ah, what a face, such kindness and looks like he had his share of joy in life. And such friends he had to keep you there as part of his letting go and allow you to be with him, too. He must have been a lovely being to have friends like that.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this will mean anything to you, but a group of us who were friends with my friend Leslie, who died a little over a month ago, practice taking a few moments to be with her, i.e., talk to her, chant for her, think of her at her exact time of death every night. According to a Buddhist tradition (the details of which I do not know), this moment provides an opening. I don't know the chant and prayer that goes with this, so I just talk to Les as if she's there. The time window is for 49 days. We all find it a comfort. Whatever way you find through, I wish you well.
Thank you Andrea. I can see how that would be a comfort. There is entirely too much dying going on. My landscaper has brain cancer. I am so sick of it.
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