In the last few years of my dear uncle’s life, I’d go round to visit and shout from the front door, “Hello Uncle. How’re you?” He’d shout back, “Dying, but apart from that I’m fine.” The first time he said that, it was like a knife ripping through me and he could see my distress. He said, “I’m nearly ninety. I’ve got heart disease and cancer. But I’ve had a great life, I’m happy and at peace with myself. Don’t worry about it.”
I realised that he was taking his responsibilities seriously and doing his job, bringing up the young ‘uns. Yeah, I know we baby boomers are now middle-aged, but to our parents generation, those that are left, we’re still the kids. And he was trying to get me to understand that there comes a time when death isn’t daunting, but something natural and even something to joke about. He died peacefully a few months ago. He was a good man.
Tonight, visiting at the hospital, I drew the same elder that I drew last night, as he dozed. I’d treated myself to a new Pentel V5 pen earlier and scribbled into my little leather-bound recycled sketchbook. He woke shortly after and we had a chat about the audio-book he’d been listening to – The Da Vinci Code. He thought it was a ripping yarn. So did I 🙂
scribblah 
Beautiful post-very moving to me.
Thank you
Having worked for years with people at the end of their lives I have come across many who seem to welome the idea of death saying they are very tired now and have had enough… Beautiful words and a lovely drawing Rosie..
Thank you. I’ve found many elderly relatives and friends seem very accepting at the end. It’s natural, after all.
Yes it is.. but when you are young ( and indeed at my age of 58) it is hard to imagine that you will ever be tired of life isn’t it?
Yes, I’m living it to the full. I’ve decided that if I make it to 80, I’ll take up dangerous sports 🙂
Haha !
A very moving sketch and story..
Thank you. We still have so much to learn from them 🙂
Lovely story! Lovely sketch!
Thank you. He’s an interesting chap.