I just found out a couple of hours ago that a real good friend passed away Wednesday afternoon. I was at his house at 1:30, and he was experiencing some major back pain. I really tried to stress to him that he should get it checked out. I had one of those odd feelings that it was more serious than just a bum back. I don't know why, I just did, and yet I didn't want to alarm him, I just wanted him to get it checked. My last words besides "Stay cool." were "Go see Dr. Downs, and at least get it checked out. He'll have you back in the game in no time."
Anyway, he kept asking me to stay for a soda, but I had work I needed to get done, so I had to leave. His wife was out playing golf at the time, so he was there alone after I left.
She called me tonight to tell me had passed away. She said it happened Wednesday afternoon. I said "What time? I was there with him at 1:30 on Wednesday!" She said she got home from golf at about 2:30 and found him on the floor. She ran next door to her neighbor who is a state trooper, and he came over, but it was already too late. He was gone.
I'm sitting here now thinking that if I just stayed and had that soda, he might be alive. I might have been there when whatever happened happened. I guess they still don't know the exact cause of death yet. I suspect it was a heart attack.
Why the fuck didn't I just have that soda? This sucks. They were married for 40 some odd years. He was one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. So is she. This is just too sad. They had just moved into their dream home that they just finished building about a week ago.
I can see that I'll be tossing and turning tonight. I really believe that if I stayed, he'd still be with us.