I got a call just before Thanksgiving from a seller who's father in law's (88yrs) (Mr 88) health was to the point that he couldn't live alone in the house and the family was looking for options and responded to my mailer. The son in law actually said that it was uncanny that the mailer came when it did as they had just talked about selling the house the day before.
My son Tommy and I went to the appointment together and after a side-trip to McDonalds for a happy meal and toy, we showed up right on time.
The nurse/caretaker took to Tommy right away and asked if she could play with him with the toy train around the tree while I toured the house. So after shaking hands with the owner, I headed off on the tour with the son in law.
About half way through the tour, the caretaker called out for the son in law to come quickly and he hustled off to help her. I was just behind him and saw that Mr 88 had slumped back into the couch and was extremely pale. She was dialing 911 when I grabbed Tommy and turned off the train controller. The son in law escorted me to the door and said that Mr 88 didn't have much time left. We chatted for a bit on the porch and I took Tommy to the car.
We could hear the siren of the ambulance as we got into the car and passed them as they came up the hill as we drove away.
As I drove away, I realized that I was the last person to shake hands with Mr 88 in this life. Kind of weird. It still seems a little surreal for me. I was a little shaken up by it. And, since I was out of the room, I hoped that Tommy hadn't gotten in the way or made any troubles.
I have been watching the paper for the last couple of days and the Obituary came out in the paper today so I called the son in law to offer condolences.
He told me the rest of the story.
Mr 88 was a bit senile and it turned out to be a bit of a Godsend that I had Tommy with me when we came to the house. See, his son had died in Viet Nam and Mr 88 was prone to having visions of his son and deceased wife.
It turned out that while I was touring the house, Mr 88 was watching Tommy and the nurse play with the Christmas train. Mr 88 was clapping and hollering for him to make it go faster! faster! and having a great time. His vision was of his son and wife playing with the train around the Christmas tree (Tommy and the nurse). He was laughing and having a good time. The nurse was watching him closely and said that he was smiling as he sat back into the couch. He sat back, sighed, got a tear in his eye and then was gone. Just like that. Total heart failure.
I got teary as the son in law told me the story. It's uncanny how things work out sometimes. I felt that it was the right thing to do, bringing Tommy to work with me that Friday. It just seemed correct. I am glad I listened to that little voice inside because it is good that my little guy could make an old man's last few minutes on the planet a little better, a little happier and a little less lonely, and I feel great about that.
Happy holidays everybody.
This life is short & we only go around once, so let's enjoy each other while we're all here.
-Taylor
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