Steve and his girlfriend walked Salem often. It was their way of getting out for some exercise in Steve's otherwise unhealthy existence. They liked The Gathering, and would visit us for our $1 movie nights on Fridays. They never attended a church service, and considered themselves pragmatists about life and death. Death was neither friend nor foe they would say, it just was.
We had discussed doing a Three Stooges series some upcoming month, and he was looking forward to The Gathering restarting the movie nights. Two weeks ago we began our movie night for the summer - 8pm every Friday, as we have done before. I expected to see the couple walk through the doors again. Tonight she came 30 minutes before the movie - without Steve.
Steve passed away on Monday.
She was up and about, because she had promised him that she would not languish at home if he died, but would live, and love, and be happy again.
Steve had tumors on his kidneys, and needed dialysis to survive. He was waiting for a kidney transplant. Steve and I had discussions about kidneys. He would describe the things he was going through, and give me information on what I could expect as my son's kidney disease progressed. We talked about life and death. We talked about what he believed, and of course we talked about movies he enjoyed.
Perhaps we need to show the Three Stooges this next month at The Vault. I'm going to miss Steve. I was honored that his girlfriend came to tell me that he was gone. We were acquaintances passing through this life, and He touched my heart in small ways - though I realize now, it may not have been so small.
Last week my son received his kidney transplant, and is doing well. This week Steve, who was in his sixties, and waiting for a kidney died. Steve never adopted my views of life, death, or faith in Christ, but if I offer such a small tribute as a short series of Three Stooges films at The Vault perhaps it can be as best a shallow offering of thanks as I can give.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
May memories of Steve grant him immortality.
BB
Mike
That was beautiful.
That's all I have to say.
That and the fact that the 3 stooges got worked into the whole story. Beautiful.
Life takes strange twists at times...prayers for peace...
Mike, B, and Sally,
People we know touch our hearts deeply in the moments of our death. I can not imagine true spirituality not dealing with death in honorable and open ways, and I can not imagine it not choosing to know people, versus use them.
Post a Comment