The Love of My Life

 

So, most of you know that in December I was in Prescott, AZ visiting friends when I was attacked by a dog.  That is not the story today, today the story is the backstory to that visit.

In early December I was on Facebook when I saw a photo of an old friend, Jack.  I noticed for the first time that Jack was sitting in a wheelchair in the photo.  I immediately called his daughter and then his wife, to find out why Jack was in a wheelchair. 

The back story to this backstory is that Jack and his wife Karen and I have been friends for 51 years.  We originally met when I was living in Fairbanks, AK.  Jack was best friends with the guy I was dating at the time and he and I first met when Bob took me to a bar where Jack worked as a bartender.  I liked him immediately.

It was one of those situations where you just know immediately that here is a very cool guy.  He had a great sense of humor, was very personable, knew how to keep an evening lively…..all that stuff.  The friendship quickly grew to include his wife, Karen and even continued past the end of my dating Bob.  I eventually did a little work for them; they lived in the bush and ran a bush camp business where guests would come out for the experience.  I was their in-town agent, meaning I met the guest at the airport, took them to their hotel for the night, picked them up the next morning and got them to the airport for the bush plane trip to their homestead, along with whatever supplies Jack and Karen needed to also come out.  Did the reverse when the guest was heading home. 

Our friendship continued onward to my few months on Guam and then my eventual return to Cincinnati.  We saw each other occasionally.  One year Dad and I flew out to Tozikaket Bush Camp for a week’s visit.  In the early 90’s Pete and I visited them at their home in Fairbanks.  When their son, Robin, was attending college at Kenyon College in Ohio, we had a visit with him one weekend.  And then, as time passed and they started spending their winters in Phoenix, on occasion, I would make a visit there to see them. 

It had been several years since a visit when the wheelchair photo popped up and when Karen informed me that Jack now suffered from COPD and dementia, I knew immediately that I had to see him.  I made plane reservations to fly to Phoenix 12/9/2024.  I asked Karen before I arrived if Jack would know me.  She said his past memory is excellent, he will know you immediately.  And he did.  

I spent a couple of days with them before I headed to Prescott for that adventure.  Jack and I had a really great visit, it was very much like ‘old home week.’

Since my return home Karen and I had visited by phone one time before this weekend.  This weekend we visited and I learned that Jack had passed on February 3.  I was stunned…..but at the same time, so grateful for that last visit. 

Karen shared how his last few days were in Hospice care and the last time she saw him she asked if he knew who she was, his last reply, the last words he spoke to her were “The love of my life.”

OMG….Jack, you were one great guy, to the very end.

Gonna miss you my friend.