[stomachmonkey]

Just before the holidays I spoke to a dear friend of mine. He called very upset about his older brother, who was very ill and they did not expect him to make it to the new year.

Called and texted him a couple of times to see how he was holding up but no response.

Texted his wife last night to see how they were both doing.

Short and sweet of her reply was, brother is doing better but my friend has the same condition and had just been moved from ICU to a hospice and she'd let me know about the memorial services when the time came.

He did not want anyone to know and wanted no visitors.

I got in the car this morning and drove down to Austin to see him. Told the nurse I knew he did not want visitors but please ask and if he says no that's OK as long as he knew that I had come.

He let me in, he was heavily sedated and had considerable trouble focusing, he said my name, said he was happy to see me, at one point he was just staring off in space then he glanced at me and gave me a thumbs up, after a couple of minutes he said he needed some sleep so I hugged him and said goodbye.

I hope he remembers that I was there

He's only 40, his son is 5 and his daughter is 2.

I'm devastated.