THOUGHTS ON LIFE AND GRADUATION

Summary

The text reflects on the author's experience with their best friend, Bill, who faced death with dignity and spiritual strength, supported by the author until his peaceful passing.

Abstract

The author recounts the final days of their best friend, Bill, a man admired for his integrity and strength, who maintained his character even as he approached the end of his life at age 87. Bill, confined to a wheelchair and struggling with the impending death of his body, expressed his resignation to the author, who in turn reassured him of his inherent strength in facing death. The narrative describes Bill's spiritual fortitude, his departure from the physical world, and the author's bittersweet reflections on his friend's legacy, symbolized by personal mementos left behind. The author anticipates a joyful reunion with Bill in the afterlife, where they envision him at his best, fishing at a heavenly lake. The story is further complicated by the fact that Bill's last days were spent under the care of the author's ex-wife, who left the author for Bill years prior, yet this does not diminish the deep bond the author shared with Bill, whom he considers a spiritual brother.

Opinions

The author holds Bill in high regard, emphasizing his integrity, strength, and charm with women.
There is a deep sense of respect and admiration for Bill's acceptance of his own mortality and his ability to face death with bravery.
The author provides emotional support to Bill in his final days, offering a poignant perspective on their friendship.
The author believes in an afterlife where he will be reunited with Bill, indicating a shared spiritual belief system.
Despite the complex history involving the author's ex-wife, there is a sense of forgiveness and understanding, reinforcing the profound connection between the author and Bill.
The author's reflections are tinged with sorrow for the loss of his friend, yet there is also an acknowledgment of the beauty and mystery in the way life and relationships unfold.

THOUGHTS ON LIFE AND GRADUATION

My best friend sat in his wheelchair days before death of his body at age 87. A truly man’s man, and to his great pleasure, a ladies man as well. Knowingly imperfect, he maintained integrity always.

As he sat there, head bowed, having necessarily lost grip on his confidence to take on everything and make it work, he said, with an uncharacteristic conviction of giving up, “Rip, I can’t do this”. He was speaking of going through the death of the body. My response, “Bill, my friend, you ARE doing it”.

He was quiet as I could feel his manly strength refilling him, not physically, but spiritually. He carried on, quietly, bravely, and left us two days later, during his physical sleep and spiritual awakening.

What remains of that big, strong body now sits in a small box on a table between the remainder of his last bottle of Wild Turkey whisky on one side, and a picture of the greatest bass fisherman I’ve ever known (him, of course) doing what he did so well.

He left this world about nine months ago. I am confident he was guided to the best bass lake in heaven.

I cannot find the words to capture the feelings I have for all this, probably because I can’t capture the feelings. They are strong, and so many.

I’m glad he will be there, smiling that giant grin to greet me upon my eventual arrival, and rushing to show me his lake and new boat.

— — —

It is worth noteing that Bill spent his last days at my daughters home with his wife, my daughters mother and my ex-wife, who left me 20 years before this after 37 years of marriage, for her high school lover, who was guess who. I readily admitted that was one reason he was my best friend.

— — —

Bill was and is family, forever — my spiritual brother. God works in mysterious, wonderful ways. But, I still miss him.