He told me about: how he met his wife, their courtship and the fun activities they’d shared—the corn roasts and picnics and skating and drive-in movies, his love for her AND his love for each of his family members… and the specific pride he felt for his loved ones.
He admitted he’d had a difficult time showing his feelings to others.
And looking back now, I realize he must have sensed his decline because well before Christmas he devised a way to reveal those feelings.
I simply helped him execute his plan.
That he had honored me by sharing with me so much of his life’s story was such a privilege. The more I thought about it, the more I became aware of how important it is for the ones approaching death to be able to describe their life story before they must bid it their final farewell.
And to think I had been the one who had provided him the listening ear and the time!
And when he said, “I’ve given up” and “I don’t want this anymore” I knew what he meant and I told him to do whatever he needed to do and if that meant letting go that it was going to be OK…I would take care of his wife.
He found comfort in that.
He found peace.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James