By Georgia Osten
As I sit here tonight, thinking of what to write, I’m actually in deep thought of the recent loss of a friend who lost his battle with cancer. We were the same age. It’s funny thinking of how long I’ve known him. I remember his wedding to my sister-in-law in their back yard so many years ago. I remember us going out to dinner when I was pregnant with my second child. I remember the easy camaraderie, how we used to pick on one another. We were both the “outlaws,” my term for “not being inlaws.” Our relationship was born of this coincidence.
Years slip by, separations happen and we weren’t “related” anymore, we became “ex Outlaws.” We both found ourselves retired and living here at the beach. We’d see each other at the local restaurants. Every once in awhile, he’d come over and eat with us, or he’d drop by for a beer. It was like time hadn’t slipped by at all. My friend was diagnosed less than 6 months ago with terminal cancer. He began getting his life in order. I wonder if we all shouldn’t have such forethought??
I saw him at the post office the week before last and again last Wednesday. A quick hug, “hope you’re doing okay.” All I really wanted to do was keep hugging him. Saturday we heard he couldn’t get out of bed. He couldn’t swallow his medicine. Before midnight, on Saturday, he gave up and he went to sleep.
God Bless you My Friend. I’ll remember you in all the old familiar places … (2014-01-07)
GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you.
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