[jyl]

We have a friend. Call her “A”. She’s a gorgeous woman, in her seventies and a “senior model”, sexy silver hair, bone structure for miles, slim, long legs, I recently saw her in a fashion show, she was radiant and lovely.

A lost her long battle with cancer. Everywhere now, organs, bones, and starting brain.

My wife and a cadre of A’s neighbors have been taking care of her, my wife has been taking her to doctors’ appointments, working with hospice, doing the paperwork. My wife is a Death Doula, which is like a Birth Doula but eases the person’s exit from life. I guess she’s helped 15 people now, but this is her first very close friend.

Today A had her hair done, the doctor came, set up the button to administer the drug, and A pushed it. She’s planned her Death With Dignity for months and it was time. I spent an hour with her on Wednesday, we talked almost like old times, she was clear eyed and alert, experiencing the prenatural heightened senses that can precede death. I kissed her forehead for a long time.

74. Damn. That’s only 12 years older than me.l