An old high school friend is dying

[struggle4progress]

We had lots of fun, raising hell together decades ago

But then we went our separate ways and hadn't talked for many years

I called him, not knowing what to expect: he inherited money and oil land, and he's a Republican

It was really great to talk with him again

I quit long ago but he still smokes pot, which we had treated almost like a Japanese tea ceremony back then

He talked about some of his environmental concerns

He said that at one point for several years he had volunteered full-time for Meals-on-Wheels, because he could afford not to work and felt like he was doing something important

He's dying but he doesn't sound like it: he sounds happy and vibrant and full of life, excitedly looking forward to the birth of his step-daughter's baby in a few months

And then he'll be gone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It sounds to me as though he's dying a happy man.

His circumstances sound pretty good. He's had a good life.

Maybe the pot smoking is easing whatever pain his illness is bringing.

He's lucky.

Would that we all could feel that way when our end arrives.

[struggle4progress]

2. Yes, he's been lucky and he is happy

[samnsara]

3. I am so very sorry....

...I hope you have many happy memories...and a couple more memorable phone calls with him.

[irisblue]

4. I am so sorry to hear this.

My sympathies

[True Dough]

5. That's sad

I hope your friend can maintain that happiness until the end.

I had a good high school friend, Dave, who I lost touch with. I tried Googling him but never found any trace of him online, which is odd in this day and age. Then his sister (who's surname had changed when she married, so I'd never found her online either) sent me a personal message on Facebook one workday afternoon. She said she had something "extraordinary" to tell me about Dave but she wanted to do it by phone rather than on Facebook.

So when I was home that evening, I awaited her call. My mind raced with the possibilities of what had happened to my old friend. Had he become a successful businessman? Made a major scientific discovery? Won the lottery? No, I told myself, it couldn't be anything like that because he would have turned up on Google in any such instance.

When his sister and I spoke, she revealed that Dave had gone to military college and joined the air force. He went home one Christmas to spend the holidays with his folks. On Christmas eve morning, he didn't emerge from his room. His mom went to check on him and found him still in bed, unresponsive. He was dead. An autopsy later revealed that he had a rare and previously undetected heart condition. It took him at age 32.

I was devastated. Even though Dave and I hadn't spoken in well over 10 years, the news of his death weighed me down for about three weeks. I still think about it from time to time, like now, and how unfair it is. But then I remember there are kids and infants dying in hospitals and how that's an even greater tragedy.

Life is hard sometimes, but it beats no life at all.

[Kimchijeon]

6. Ah I am sad to hear that he will be gone so soon

And I am glad it sounds like he is happy and looking forward to things, and has done well. Glad to hear you reconnected and got to talk with him again. Even though he has limited time left it's good to hear he seems happy.