I don’t know if I believe in the old adage that things happen in threes. But I have some ancedotal proof, as three people I knew pretty well have died in the last 3 weeks. The first, Matt, died too young. The second, Morrie, died at 83. And the third, Mary, died at 102.
I am happy for Mary and Morrie, as they were ill and death was a welcome relief from their suffering. Both lived very interesting lives. Mary lived in back of me, and up until about two years ago, the most amazing smells came out of her house – homemade tomato sauce. She was a very sweet lady, somebody who took clear pride in having a beautiful garden. We’d talk over the fence, and share flowers. Last time I saw her, which was last summer, she asked her home care workers to help her over to the fence to speak to me. She was clearly very weak, but she still wanted to see me. She told me that she was done with this life, and she wanted to go home to her husband. She was ready. And I believed her. She was determined enough to live through 100 years, and now she was determined enough to say when she was done. RIP Mary.
Morrie was a character. He was a statistician for the Pistons and Red Wings. A curious fellow, clearly smart, but a little different. I only knew Morrie as a shuffling, old man. All he wanted was souvenirs for his collections – pins, hats, you name it. I remember when I returned from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he was mad at me for not getting him some pins. Sorry Morrie.
And Matt. I’m still not totally processing that Matt is gone. I half expect to see him somewhere. But I know I won’t. I still pray for his family.