Jason’s half-brother, Dean, completed his quarantine period 3 days ago, with no signs of COVID infection in any of us. Except for shopping, we’re all essentially home-bodies, and so together, the three of us have our own little bubble. It’s nice to have another familiar face around the house. Both Dean and Jason have been very supportive of my current situation, as on a sadder note, my BFF, Dawn, is now in the final days of her life.

Dawn’s Cancer returned a couple of years ago, and although refusing chemotherapy this time ‘round, she had tried a couple of other prescribed medications...to no avail. One of the last times we spoke, she was looking into medically assisted suicide, and so I guess to a certain degree, she’s getting her wish.

I visited her at the hospital yesterday (with all the necessary precautions), and despite being heavily sedated, she opened her eyes a couple of times, smiled, and even let out that familiar giggle, then went back to sleep. The nurse who greeted me on the ward, made it clear that in no uncertain terms, Dawn probably wouldn't survive the week, the Cancer having spread to her organs.

October has always been a special time for us, as we share birthdays at the end of the month; hers on the 27th, and mine on the 30th. For whatever it was worth, I brough a birthday card (read it to her) and a Sudoku puzzle book and pen. She was always good at Math, and loved to do Sudoku. The card was a humorous one that read something to the effect of: You know what happens whenever we share a bottle of wine...the bottle always ends up empty, which it did. Obviously, we loved to drink wine together, cook for each other, watch movies, listen to my LP and CD collection...and dance. Although eccentric in some regards (even more so than I), she was also quite intelligent, and we enjoyed discussing the issues of the day, in politics and current events.

I stayed for only 10 minutes, wanted to stay longer, but she asked me nicely to leave, and so respecting her wish, said my final good-bye, and trying to stay positive, added, “See you again soon.” She smiled, and then I left.

Her shoes will be darn near impossible to fill, and frankly, don’t think I would want to, but as Mom used to say, when one door closes, another will open. We’ll see.

In another sense I’m glad she’s leaving, to be free of pain and worry, and won’t have to put up any longer with this damned Corona virus.

When she’s gone, that leaves me with only a couple of close friends, geographically and spiritually. Thank goodness for Facebook. Through it and poetry, over the years I’ve made many friends and acquaintances around the world. Friendship there of course is not the same, but fills a void, especially while living in the shadow of the pandemic.


© 2020
Photos © by author





Dawn also loved to draw and paint. Here’s one of my favorites of hers from 2010, based on a photo I had taken in 1989:




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10/05/2020

Posted on 10/05/2020
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti