Another Leaf Gently Falls
(This post is Friends-locked.)
Last night, the wife of a school friend of mine informed us that he passed away just before midnight on July 1.
For several years, he had been bravely battling leukemia.
Two and a half years ago he and I got in touch with each other for the first time since a high school reunion that I attended years ago.
For 2-1/2 years, we've been collaborating on his family genealogy. I have the resources for this, and it was up to me because no one else could do it. His brother isn't computer literate. His cousin is courageously fighting her own dire health challenge.
So my friend and I have created a nice tree for his lineage.
With his permission it's always been publicly posted.
He and his family moved to the USA from Canada. When he started elementary school, he, J. and I quickly became play-mates. What thrilling fun we three had exploring caves in the bluffs; floating on board-rafts on sump holes (pulling ourselves along by long stick-poles); playing hide-and-seek; and playing in the fields and along the sea shore.
And what wonderful times at his home. I'd play the piano while we three sang favorite songs, including a rousing rendition of "The Maple Leaf Forever." I loved that song (and still do). Somehow I got it into my head that it is the National Anthem of Canada. It isn't, of course. "O Canada" is the National Anthem, and our friend did his best to convince me of this. But I remained unpersuaded, and I played the piano while we enthusiastically sang "The Maple Leaf Forever" along with other favorites.
After high school graduation, we went separate lives.
The years passed.
He was a warm, devoted husband and father. He loved his family dearly.
And in retirement, he and his family took many beautiful, enjoyable trips that included gorgeous cruises.
A few months ago, he phoned me to tell me that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.
From that time on, our friend, his devoted wife and family, and his doctors have been doing all that is possible to cure him. He and his family are very religious, and looked to their Lord for help and guidance.
His physicians placed him into a special pharmaceutical trials program to help him.
However, he recently contracted a deep pneumonia that resisted efforts to remove it.
He--and later his wife when he could no longer do so--posted weekly updates on CaringBridge.org. This is a vital and heart-felt service for patients to conveniently inform their family and friends of updates about their condition.
We on his CaringBridge.org mailing list prayed along with our friend and his wife and posted inspiring and encouraging messages there
Our friend wanted to leave his ancestral genealogy tree as a lasting legacy.
He, via our collaboration, accomplished this.
And I'm continuing my commitment to him regarding his ancestral tree.
His lasting ancestral legacy is assured.
When I read last night that our friend passed away, I wept.
The picture attached is of a Red Maple. It's my original default UserPic for my Journal "Colored Leaves Falling."
The Red Maple has special meaning in Japan and in Japanese poetry, some forms of which I write in English.
This photograph of the Red Maple was given to me decades ago by a friend who took it at Walden Pond.
This morning I opened my song book that I used long ago in our friend's house, and I sang, in tribute to him, "The Maple Leaf Forever...."
Rest in peace, dear friend....