Blue Christmas
Friday was the last workday before a nine day shutdown. We left work after a half day filled with light chores, a few drinks and lunch. Crazy Chris and B-dub and I had plans to visit Mayor Bob, as we do every Friday, for band practice before going to Casey Moore's happy hour. Because we were on half-day CC called the mayor to let him know we were on our way. No answer. He left a voice message.
Chris gave me a lift to Bob's for our ritual visit with our dear friend. I wish I was a better writer. I have words to describe the next 24 hours but they're not good enough.
Three days of newspapers piled in Bob's driveway stopped us in our tracks. "This isn't good." Chris saw the significance two seconds before me. A fews seconds later on Bob's doorstep lay two UPS boxes, medication our friend needs. We rang the bell many times, checked all doors. No Bob. At that moment my heart was the lowest it has been in years. I knew the worst, as did Chris.
We drove the few blocks to the pub discussing the possibilities. Did Bob get sick and go to the hospital? Did he go away for the holiday? At the pub we immediately told staff and patrons of our concern and asked, "When did you last see Bob?" The mayor had lunch as Casey's every day. No one could place him in Casey's for three days and we had three days of newspaper in a pile.
A smart phone friend looked up the phone number for Banner Hospital, where Bob has his chemo appointments. Us dumb phone people made the call. he wasn't at any Banner facility. We also called the nearest hospital, St Lukes. No Bob.
We drove by his friend Hugo's home knowing he had a key. Hugo was away. We considered breaking in but thought it was unwise. However unlikely it was that Bob had traveled, we had to consider the possibility. I left a note at Hugo's explaining the situation with our cell numbers. We stopped at Bob's again before going home.
I did not sleep well Friday night. At first light I returned to Hugo's place hoping to get the key. His neighbor told me Hugo was at his cabin above the rim, 2+ hours away. I called CC. He agreed to meet at the pub later that morning to make a decision. Cheryl and I arrived with tools to break in but were not comfortable with that option. "I don't want to explain a dead body after a break in to the police." ... was Chris' line that convinced me to call the police for a wellness check.
We hesitated only because our friend does not like the Tempe police. He also has a medical marijuana card and the right to grow his own, but police in AZ have been arresting people even if they have the legal right to possess. They're challenging the new law every chance they get. As Bob put it, "The government won't let the will of the people get in the way of their agenda."
I called police late Saturday morning, after dozens of questions, and repeating them over and over, the cops cased the house before entering. Bob was found in his bed wearing his trademark Levis with glass in hand and the television on. He died sometime Tuesday, four days earlier. I did not feel good knowing our friend died alone and lay there four days.
The news was taken hard at the pub. A couple of friends showed up at the house. Bob's cousin arrived later. He had been trying to reach Bob for days and decided to drive into town to check on him. He had the family information police needed. We we're permitted to leave.
Christmas morning Cheryl and I returned to water Bob's front yard garden. It was his hobby and pride. The lettuce is green and leafy, living proof of a man who cared and nutured everything and everyone around him. I regret not being able to say goodbye. I will miss his wisdom, his genuine friendship, and the best bar conversations I've even taken part in.
Bob Young will be missed by many friends, people who's lives were enriched because they had him as a friend. I'm sure there will be a memorial service, or some tribute to our friend in the coming days. It will be a sad day with many tales of a man we loved. I won't miss being there.