Over Easter weekend I learned that one of my closest long-time friends, David, died on April 4, at the age of 49. He would have turned 50 on April 17. I don’t know for certain, but I believe he’d succumbed to esophageal cancer. I had spoken with him briefly last month when he told me he planned to visit a doctor. He had trouble swallowing and – mostly shocking – weighed only 114 pounds at the time. He later informed me that an X-ray showed his esophagus was bent and that his doctor had referred him to a gastroenterologist who referenced cancer. That’s what I had thought, when he mentioned the initial X-ray findings. The gastroenterologist wanted to rush him into surgery. Afterwards I never heard from him again. I had thought of calling him, when I decided to check that most ubiquitous of sources: Facebook. That’s when I found out about his demise.
Damn! And he didn’t have the decency to tell me. You know…that’s kind of rude.
The news hit me especially hard because Easter weekend marked the first anniversary of the death of another close friend, Paul, who died after a year-long bout with liver cancer at the age of 55. His death was considerably different in that I had been in constant contact with him and saw the end looming over the horizon.
I also saw the end with another friend, also named David, before his death in 1993. That was the first time I’d actually lost a close friend to death, and it impacts me to this day. People have always accused me of being too sensitive; in that I don’t often let things go. That’s true to an extent. I had a tendency to hold grudges. But it’s tough to let go of the death of a close relative or friend.
David went quick, though. According to one of his friends, the cancer was too advanced for doctors to do anything. And I got mad again. That’s just like a man! Waited until the last fucking minute to take care of himself! That’s so old school. Men of my father’s generation did shit like that! David was almost a whole decade younger than me.
Several years ago I watched a program on the lives of very old people; those who’d lived beyond 90 and how they managed to sustain themselves. Aside from good genes and a positive outlook on life, they all seemed to have one pertinent thing in common: their ability to deal with the death of others around them. As sad as it is to lose a loved one, we have to understand that it happens. Some things may last forever, but no person can – at least not in this world. Our capacity to accept that helps us move forward with our own lives.
So, as difficult as it’s been these past few weeks, I’ve had to accept David is gone. My greatest consolation is that he’s not suffering anymore.
Good night, my friend. I’ll miss you, but I’m glad you have begun your next journey in life. As with everyone else I’ve lost, I hope to see you on the other side.
David in his natural element – with an animal
Chief Writing Wolf 
My condolences to you. Losing friends is tough enough when they are elderly: to lose them when you’re younger, as you are, is much more difficult.
Thank you, Mary.
I’m sorry.
Thanks, Jen, but I’m okay. It was just a tough thing to deal with at that moment. But that’s life.
I am so sorry, Alejandro. Grief is not the easiest of emotions to deal with. I recently lost my Mother too.
I didn’t know you just lost your mother, Amanda. I’m so sad to learn that. Please accept my condolences.
Thanks A. We were not close, my Mother and I. She never really knew how to be a Mother once I passed toddlerhood. I think she was traumatized by an absent mother from an early age. The last 6 years of her life were very difficult for both of us. I did my grieving a long time ago but that was in itself lengthy and emotionally difficult. Thanks again.
Wow, Amanda. That’s a compelling story. Familial relationships are always complex and imperfect. I was genuinely closer to my father than to my mother and actually miss him more than anyone else I’ve lost. My father and I just had a unique bond that’s indescribable, and I make no apologies for it or feel the need to explain it further. Regardless of how difficult any of your relationships have been in the past, I feel you’ve turned into a wonderful person.
Oh you are so kind and you make me sound so sweet. I am not sure if I am wonderful. The way you talk of your bond with your father – well my husband, the M.o.t.h. had that with his father. He really took his father’s loss very badly and while the grief for him is not so raw, it is still felt daily. When father son relationships work, they are often so deep nothing not even death can break them.
I had an older friend and former colleague who died 2 years ago. His father had died in 1979, and he told me he “spoke” with him all the time. I didn’t balk at that, since I’m very spiritual, and now talk with my own father frequently.
That kind of communication whether real or imagined, can be really therapeutic, I feel. Definitely no shame in that at all.