April-17

Journal – April 2017

Today is one of the Tuesdays in April. I can’t remember which one. It is a sad day because Donna’s very good friend and companion has just died. Americo!

His passionate advances towards Donna I worried about and wrote about last year, but he proved not to be the lecherous old man I originally thought him to be. Americo was a dear friend who had much compassion for Donna. He took care of her, and she showed him much affection in return.

Americo was wheelchair bound but was always full of good spirits – always asking me if I had brought him some cigarettes. Did I have the keys to his car that he claimed was parked just outside? On this Tuesday of his passing, he, Donna, a couple of care-aides and I, had enjoyed a happy afternoon in the lunch room, laughing and telling little stories. He was full of life. Within an hour of my leaving, he was still in his chair in the lunch room when the regular check of residents was conducted. All his life-signs were gone – no pulse, no breath, nothing. He was just calmly sitting in his chair with eyes closed – his passing completely without pain or incident. He just left this world at the time of his choosing.

DONNA'S
STORY

I know she'll miss him!

Americo’s loss is a shock to everyone. Nobody expected him to die at this time. Many of the other residents are in much poorer physical condition. When those individuals pass, it won’t be a surprise, perhaps because their personalities haven’t had a chance to emerge.

There have been other unexpected losses this winter and spring – James and Norman, to name but two. Both were friendly and talkative people – James, a true master of sarcastic wit – Norman, a loose-hipped practitioner of the Jive and Jitterbug – a sensation when he visited the “Town Hall” for Pub-night.

But no event has been as surprising as Americo’s death. Americo! You will be missed! You leave a lot of friends behind, and Donna is certainly one. So am I.

I will write no more this month!