Not Yet

 Wifey and I became friends with an older couple, Helene and Alan, many years ago. We met through our Rabbi and Rebetzin, and liked them very much. Wifey saw Helene, a true mentsh of a mom and grandma, as a bit of a mentor.

Sadly, shortly after they moved to Atlanta to be close to their grandkids, Helene was stricken with terminal cancer. She tried experimental treatment in Seattle, but the end came nonetheless. I still recall, though, Alan telling us about her final moments.

Helene was surrounded by all her family, and she was mostly asleep. Her breathing softened, and the family drew in, thinking she had passed. She opened her eyes, though, and said "Not yet." Typical amazing Helene -- everyone broke out laughing. But the time did come shortly afterward, and she drifted away.

A few years later, Alan was visiting Miami, and had coffee with an old acquaintance, Doreen. Doreen, a South African Jewish lady, lost her husband around the time Helene had died. Well, coffee led to Chapter 2, and Alan sold his Atlanta place and moved back to South Florida. I haven't spoken to him in awhile, but think he and Doreen live in Weston now.

I'm reminded of this because of the vigil for my mother in law. As of early today, her breathing is still strong, vitals fine, but still can't be roused. After Wifey called Vitas Hospice, who has been getting paid a fair amount to do fairly little, they agreed to send a nurse 24/7. They also put in an order for morphine, if needed. So far it's not needed. But today is Day 3 of no water or food, so who knows? The Big Man alone, of course.

I came to the office to avoid my house, as Wifey has her decorators there replacing our old clutter with new clutter. Apparently this is something that becomes essential after living in a house for 20 years.

I know nothing about interior design. But I do know we used to have a set of very large, comfortable dining room chairs that had to go, to be replaced with a set of small modern ones with the comfort one finds at a driver's license waiting room. Isn't that a lyric from Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves A Woman?" "When a man loves a woman...he agrees to comically uncomfortable chairs...if that's the way she says it oughta be..."

D2 and Jonathan are en route to ATL, and we have the enormous puppy. I was drifting into a post workout nap yesterday, when she began barking maniacally at the pool guy outside. I recalled how much I missed having her at the house. She's actually a sweet, huge puppy, but not a dog for older people...

I think we'll go see the Little Man and his parents tomorrow afternoon. We already celebrated an early Father's Day, so that's in the books.

And as for Rachel...well, she's resting comfortably at the Palace.