January 30, 2007

• Death knocks next door

  ...for the third time since we started this building project.

  Our next-door neighbor, Miss Cynthia, first lost her brother in a drive-by shooting a couple of years back. Then last February (2005) Rodney, Cynthia's relative who lived in her house after she moved to Texas, suddenly died of heart failure. He was in his late fifties.

  Now a good friend of Cynthia's, who had moved into the back house on her property to take care of it for her (and he did a great job too), has died unexpectedly, Sunday morning. Kathryn found out about it Sunday night as she passed Cynthia's house and discovered the party going on there was actually a wake. For Derek!

  Derek "Fat Cat" was friendly and open, and I was just getting to know him. Distracted by all the activity in my life, I hadn't progressed much past the point of "how's it going", but I had hoped to, "soon". I did not know Cynthia's brother very well before he died, and had made sure to spend more time with Rodney when he moved in. Rodney and I spent a good number of Sunday afternoons jamming together, he playing lead blues guitar and me backing him with my bass.

  The first death surprised me, the second one hurt, this third one... confused me, more than anything else I guess. It seemed so inappropriate: Derek was only in his late 30s, cancer isn't supposed to kill so quickly, and besides, Kathryn hasn't made him a cake yet for his birthday! I can't remember when it is, I'll have to ask him again next time I see him on 37th Drive-- except that I won't. Death is awfully rude that way. I have missed my chance.

  Don't miss yours, to build relationships with those near you.

  • 2:06 pm
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