Flush it Friday: One of the Good Ones
Friends, we’re getting older. All of us at the same pace. You’re older this Friday than you were last Friday, and next Friday you’ll be older still, assuming you don’t run out into traffic. This is something to celebrate. Congratulations, you, on another Friday lived and another week earned (well, maybe not earned, but I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here). Bottoms up! We’ve made it! Let’s discuss what that means for us this week.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly: Unfortunately, for my grandfather of 90 years, this Friday didn’t come. He died in his sleep Wednesday night of natural causes. That means he simply stopped breathing. He was a Marine who fought in the Second World War. A hearty and stout man, and a handsome one at that.
Semper Fi
He was one of the good ones. But as must we all, he finally succumbed to age, suffering for years from one of Father Time’s most brutal maladies – Alzheimer’s disease. I got to say a proper goodbye before the disease advanced enough for him to look at me with heartbreaking unfamiliarity. I’m eternally grateful for that.
In tribute, let’s revisit a classic ambient masterpiece by The Caretaker, which explores the minds of Alzheimer’s patients and their remarkable ability to remember the songs of their past. RIP Grandpa.
So as we celebrate each new Friday, as we should, don’t forget to reflect on possibly the worst part of collecting those Fridays – the endless goodbyes to friends and loved ones. Far more goodbyes than we ever wanted or thought possible. And don’t forget to celebrate the good ones who didn’t get to have this Friday with the rest of us. They are loved and missed.
To make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, click here.
Flush (or don’t flush) your Friday in the comments below.
Photo VIA
