The Passing Of A Friend
The View From Henry’s Living Room Where We Always Gathered
This blog has often been a look at my personal life. It is hard to write a blog and not invite you, the reader, into my space. With that said, I want to honor a friend of both James and myself who passed away Friday.
I met Henry, who was known here on this blog when he commented as ‘Kerr Mudgeon’, back in my days at the State Capitol. Henry worked at the budget office when Governor Thompson was in office. He was schooled in the classics (Latin and Greek) but found his many talents and skills worked in any office where he applied them. Over the past many years he became a part of the weekly routine for James and myself as we visited at his home. He always had cookies or chocolate candy, with the teapot at the ready; even when we popped in unannounced to visit.
His living room was the place for lively conversation or movies with a close set of friends who found that space as wonderful and inviting as we did. It was there in his home of so many smiles and laughter that Henry passed away from a heart attack Friday.
A couple weeks ago I wrote about a friend’s garden that caught everyone’s attention that walked in his neighborhood. It was Henry’s garden that I wrote about, and the picture here is a sample of what he grew and loved. Henry was generous with his plants and called us over each year to divide the roots and start new plants at our home.
Six years ago this June, Henry suffered a heart attack and underwent heart surgery. On the 6th anniversary of that trying time Henry wrote a long letter, and this is how it ended.
I will let his words speak for James and me tonight. Thank you Henry for being such a good friend.
I find myself grateful and even joy-filled as I awaken each morning and am gladdened by the new day. There’s nothing like dying and being revived to make you appreciate every moment of your life as truly the gift that it is. And never ever forget how important your mere presence can be for another person suffering physical and spiritual pain.
I’ve known Henry for 30+ years, and he never seemed so happy and at peace with himself as he did these last years. I was there with him after the first attack. He knew then it was not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. The when of the ‘when’ didn’t seem to bother him. He knew it was out there, and he was not going to waste time dwelling on it. He had 6 amazing years with friends, and the garden, and that location… I wasn’t there for the end. I feel for you there in Madison who dealt with this first-hand. I keep you in my thoughts as well lately. Celebrate his life, don’t mourn his death.
Oh Deke, I’m quite upset that “Kerr Mudgeon” as I knew him only by his posts on his blog, has passed away. On May 8th I received, what I now know was his last post, in my e-mail. He spoke of new ducklings that he could see from his dining room window.
I’ve missed his posts and thought he was back blogging like his old self but…
You and James have my sympathies for the loss of a friend who I had the extreme luck in getting to know just a little bit.
This is a warm and beautiful remembrance. I think that what you have written here would please Henry very much. You and James have my deepest sympathy.