Well into the older stages of life, Dennis and I joked about the parental instruction we were given every time we got together. The instruction was, "Go ahead and play but DON'T GET SWEATY!" Did Dennis and I ever heed that warning, never! We ran full speed until they dragged the sweaty visiting cousin into the car pleading for just another ten minutes together. We never got enough of each other and I had been known to ride 10 miles on my bike just to hang with my best pal. The anticipation of getting together made us giddy with excitement until the big day came.
As most often is the case, we saw less and less of each other as the years passed. Finally we reached the point we lost track of each other. I moved to Indiana and back, then to California and back, then South Carolina and back. After the last move back, we reconnected and Dennis was very good about inviting me over for a beverage and burger whenever his dad, Uncle Willy, was in town. (Now all grown up that would be Uncle Bill). We sure enjoyed those get togethers and reliving all the old stories of silliness.
I tried to make it a habit of getting together with Dennis and deeply enjoyed our time together. One day, one of Dennis' sisters called telling me he was very ill. She told me he would never say anything to me about it but thought it was important I knew. Somehow we eventually got around to the subject and he told me he had a horrible form of cancer. He was in terrible pain and on heavy drugs to ease his suffering. I asked him how in the world he could deal with all of that and he said he really had no choice. He just lived one day at a time doing the best he could to make the day pleasant. During one conversation he added, "I just hope to make it to 70. If I could do that, I would be pleased, considering the situation."
As you would expect, things got worse and worse. Some of the medication they gave him actually made his lower jaw porous and brittle. The doctors were afraid it could break at any time. They removed part of a leg bone and used it to replace the deteriorating part of his jaw. During that time he was miserable and just wanted some normalcy.
He got worse and was in and out of the hospital constantly. His heart began acting up, then his kidneys. He was frustrated beyond imagination but he never seemed afraid. He was living by what he told me earlier, just one day at a time. Helpless, we simply saw his body fall apart and he never left the hospital. He passed away less than a year ago at exactly age 66 years and 3 months. I love that crazy guy and he is very missed by so many people. He certainly left a hole in the universe.
When the doctors notified Dennis' wife he would not be with us much longer, she called and invited me in to see him. She and I walked into his room. Dennis was in bed and didn't look very much like himself. He was on a ventilator and in and out of consciousness. When we walked in, his wife walked to his side and told him, "Rick is here." He perked up a tad and said, "Rick......Rick." I had the chance to talk to him a bit and tell him I loved him. He settled in for a moment then was out of it again.
He came back around and excitedly kept saying, "Oh Wow! Oh Wow! Oh Wow!" Then fell asleep again. This time he seemed to be peaceful and resting. His wife walked me out and we talked for a few minutes. I left with a sadness that I would never enjoy his humor nor his friendship ever again. It was so unreal.
As the days passed and turned into ten months, His "Oh Wows" and the peace that followed plagued me. All these months I have wondered what that was all about. A week or so ago it struck me. I have pondered my thoughts until now and deeply and truly believe I now understand.
I absolutely believe at that time, the glory of our Father in Heaven filled that room along with a multitude of His angels. I believe they brought him unimaginable comfort and peace. I believe Dennis was in awe of what he saw. God loves Dennis more than you or I can imagine. Our Father's presence and splendor would be such that we could not find the words to proclaim it and perhaps only say, "Oh Wow!"
I also believe no one ever passes from this life to the next alone. I am sure his room was filled with those who were about to walk that walk with him and they never left his side until that time came.
Dennis is a brave and heroic man in my mind and heart. He fought until his time had come. He brought so much joy into so many lives. He is loved and will never be forgotten. He is with the Lord now and forever.
My father and his are also both with the Lord and when his sisters and I talk we often laugh about the way heaven must be turned upside down with all the mischievous DNA in those three!
The message on his funeral card is so true and is as follows:
"God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not to be; so He put His arms around you and whispered, "Come with Me." With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and saw you fade away; although we loved you dearly we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands to rest; God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best!"
Thank you dear Father for loving us all so much and for taking Dennis home where there is no more pain or suffering but only joy! Praise be your name!