tulips on the baseline

[mechaieh]

My friend Harry was a renowned political scientist: he co-taught a seminar at Harvard with Henry Kissinger for three years, compiled a reading list for Jacqueline Kennedy, and shows up in a lot of bibliographies about U.S. central intelligence. I didn't know any of this, however, until long after he and his wife and I had become friends

Comments

[athenais]

What a good farewell. I am sorry for your loss.

[mechaieh]

Thank you. A sound engineer at the Talking Library also passed away this week -- likewise not a surprise, but still. It has been a hard month on gentle men.

[mrissa]

I am so sorry.

[mechaieh]

Thank you. His widow informed me that, since she's only 41 years older than me, I shouldn't be calling her my honorary grandmother ("You're not that much younger than me." "Ah, but I'm so much more immature." "Yes, but that's okay. Growing up is for the birds.") ... which, fair enough (it's true that her kids are just a half- rather than full generation older than me), but I'm still going to think of him as my honorary grandfather. He just was.

[kirbyfest]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[mechaieh]

Thank you. It was not the first time I've watched someone during their final hours, but nonetheless, I remain in awe of how the body functions (and doesn't) as it shuts down. Even knowing some of the science (and with the awesome hospice nurse explaining more) -- it's still so profound and mysterious.