DICK

DICK
Today, I lost a friend. While I have known Dick for only a year, I considered him my friend. Dick died this morning in his sleep, a victim of COPD. While I shouldn’t have been surprised with his death, as he was enrolled in the Hospice program. His responses, each time I asked him how he was doing, were indications were also indications that he was “hurting“. I guess it was the suddenness of his passing, that stunned me.
I saw Dick at dinner, here at Quail Creek, last night where he, and four of his male friends had gathered. (Today, I heard that Dick referred to the occasion as “The Last Supper”, or a “The Farewell Dinner.”. Apparently, Dick knew something that none of the rest of us knew! During dinner, he left his table and circled through the dining room in his power chair, greeting his Quail Creek friends at the various tables, as he often did. But, this time, it turned out to be his “Farewell”. Dick stopped at my table, and we greeted each other. Almost from when we met, he has admired my shirts! He would say, “Another beautiful -new shirt!” I used to explain that it wasn’t a “new” shirt - in some cases it was an “old” shirt! Occasionally, it was a new shirt. I would give credit to my daughter, Mary, who had purchased them. Dick would even give me “flyers”, that he had received in the mail, “pitching” shirts. (I needed more shirts like I needed more to eat.) I always checked on him, by asking him how he was doing. His usual response was “Not so hot”. He was on oxygen, along with a lack of appetite.
Occasionally, Dick and I would dine at the same table for four. It was on these occasions that I learned about his interesting background. He grew up in Salt Lake City, While being raised as a Mormon, he was not a practicing one. He met his “wife to be” in Salt Lake City. (She died a short time ago, which prompted Dick to move here to Quail Creek. I am sorry that I never got to meet her.) Besides being friendly, Dick was an good conversationalist. Having been trained, and worked, as a Geologist, he related interesting job experiences he had - traveling all over the world.
Christina, a CNA here at Quail Creek, told me about my “losing a buddy”, shortly after his death. She was in his room when he died. She gave him comfort right through to the end! She told of hearing his heavy breathing, so she played a Duke Ellington recording - Dick’s favorite music. Then, he peacefully went to sleep for the last time. Everyone deserves to have such empathetic and compassionate company when they leave this world. No one should have to die alone.
RCL - 7/10/10.