Black With One Sugar

What do you say to a dying man?

I was in that situation yesterday and there really isn’t a lot that you can say. You don’t have time to get into a discussion of his belief in an afterlife. I can’t tell him that everything will be all right, because I just don’t know. I believe all will be as it is intended to be. I wanted to tell him that I despise cancer with all of my being! I wanted to say that he had touched many people and our lives are the better for it. I wanted to thank him for laughing at my jokes and for making me laugh. I wanted to tell him how important it was for me to have coffee every day at work with a friend like him. I wanted to say a lot of things, but all I managed to get out was “Hi. Everything is going to be fine.”

Words had no meaning anyways, I could have said anything. What I did was reach out and take his hand, our watery eyes met and he pulled me in for a hug. We hugged and eventually I pulled back, we nodded and smiled at each other and I made room for someone else to touch Doug’s gentle spirit. I’m going to miss the laughs.

The rest of the time was spent with other friends who came to share love and memories. We will all miss him and I for one will have an empty spot in my heart for many years.

If it is true that when you die all of your friends and loved ones that have passed will be there to greet you, I know that Doug will spend the first part of eternity shaking hands and trading hugs. When my time comes, I know that Doug will be there with a funny story and a cup of coffee for me.

Black with one sugar, Doug, don’t forget.