(no subject)
I was unaware of this until today (because I don't check my email often enough), but on April 22nd, Earth Day, our good family friend, Jack, died.
He was the one with the white beard who was always upbeat and telling jokes at our christmas and 4th of July parties, and he always had some crazy, interesting story about his life to tell. He was the healthiest, happiest person I know, and, at age 62, you would have guessed he was somewhere between age 40-50, at the most. He spent his life backpacking. I've been on many backbacking trips in my life and, I would say, more than half were with him. He told the best campfire ghost stories - always managing to convince me that it was a true story which took place "somewhere not too far from here" - and, like any good ghost story should, they terrified me! He knew everything about nature - I remember him showing me some berries that were safe to eat when I was camping with him as a kid and, another time, walking past a bunch of orange trees with him.
A few years ago he discovered he had skin cancer. He got it removed but refused chemo-therapy. It grew back. And worse this time... He was in much pain, so it is a relief that he isn't anymore.
It's just perfect that Earth Day was the day he died.
Goodbye, Jack.
We'll miss you.
He was the one with the white beard who was always upbeat and telling jokes at our christmas and 4th of July parties, and he always had some crazy, interesting story about his life to tell. He was the healthiest, happiest person I know, and, at age 62, you would have guessed he was somewhere between age 40-50, at the most. He spent his life backpacking. I've been on many backbacking trips in my life and, I would say, more than half were with him. He told the best campfire ghost stories - always managing to convince me that it was a true story which took place "somewhere not too far from here" - and, like any good ghost story should, they terrified me! He knew everything about nature - I remember him showing me some berries that were safe to eat when I was camping with him as a kid and, another time, walking past a bunch of orange trees with him.
A few years ago he discovered he had skin cancer. He got it removed but refused chemo-therapy. It grew back. And worse this time... He was in much pain, so it is a relief that he isn't anymore.
It's just perfect that Earth Day was the day he died.
Goodbye, Jack.
We'll miss you.