Goodbye, My Friend

I got the call late Saturday night & the moment I heard her voice on the other end of the line, I knew. The battle was over, the cancer had finally won.
My friend was gone. He just turned 65 the week before.

I met my friend Rick the summer I moved here. I was still shooting film & frequently needed a quick camera fix. He was my go to guy & I never had a problem he couldn't solve. When I made the switch to digital, I didn't have the need to call on him for a while. A year and a half had passed before I rang him again.

When Rick met me at the door, he looked like a shadow of who he was before. I noticed instantly the yellowing of his eyes & his loose skin clinging to bone. At this point in our relationship, we'd always discussed business & never held more than a few friendly conversations. We talked about art in all forms & the progression of digital photography. I always made mention of his amazing wood carvings... But this time I couldn't stop worrying about him.

I called the next day, simply out of concern. He confessed that he had colon cancer & that he had been given 6 months to live. He'd just begun chemotherapy & in addition to the cancer, was suffering from some adverse side effects. We spoke for over an hour and when I hung up, I cried for at least that long. I took the time to write him a heartfelt note just so he knew how important he was to my business; after all he had saved my gear on more than one occasion!

Over the last six months, I brought him everything I could find to be fixed. He knew about my husband's admission to the hospital in November & called just to check on us. I called as often as I could just to offer a friendly voice & a listening ear. These calls were difficult for me to make- I felt such sadness after we spoke & could never contain my tears afterward. But I knew it was a relief for him to have someone else to talk with. I believe he took comfort in knowing that someone he had barely known took a little extra time to reach out.

This experience has weighed heavily on my heart. I can only imagine how difficult the last few months were for he & his wife. And although it is difficult to say goodbye to those we love, it is also difficult to watch them suffer knowing there is little that can be done to help.

Today I wish to say goodbye to you Rick. I am greatly saddened by your passing-
I hope you fly away to a better place where you will be at peace.
You are already missed.