Last year about this time we heard loud sirens and the roar of a helicopter just at dusk. On enquiring the next day, we learned that it had been Joe, who lived in a house nearby who had been rushed to the hospital. It had been rumored that he was a heavy drinker, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise. A few days later Joe was back home and everybody thought he was well chastened and ready to hop on the wagon.
Today we started out on foot with a bag of Christmas goodies to give to friends. Just a few steps down the road we saw Vivien, Joe’s wife, a small woman with blond hair walking in the opposite direction, carrying a tray of colorful objects which turned out to be caramel apples on a stick with a red ribbon and Christmas greetings tied around each one. Joe helped me make these, she said. We accepted two of them as gifts and gave her a hug. To our surprise tears started streaming down her face! We learned then that Joe had quietly passed away the night before!
Everybody knew Joe was “difficult” – we didn’t really expect he had stayed off the sauce – he had often had words with neighbors and was easily angered. I wondered secretly if Vivien was relieved, but the sight of her tearstained face as she bravely delivered her gifts of Christmas cheer set me straight on that score!
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