Eulogy for Son :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for tidingsDuring the break down months, weeks and days of the life of Hays Johnson, during that hard time of his illness, he was not dying. He was living. This may seem to be a way out of se parttics or playing with words, but I learned from him during that period a lesson which I had previously only perceived in a fractional fashion. When a newborn utters its first loud wail, a sound which touches the police van of the bystanders, it is perhaps an expression of regret that its stay in this beautiful area is temporary. Perhaps the baby knows what we often forget, that we are all ultimately terminal. I do not think for adept moment that in his last days on earth Hays was in a secernate of denial or rationalization. He knew how sick he was. But he was determined to take the advice of the song Im gonna live, live, live until I die. With one burning(prenominal) difference. The implication of the song is that one should take from life some(prenominal) one can grab before it is too late. Hays wanted to contribute whatever he could, and it did not matter to him whether his life stretched before him for decades or for hours, he was going to be one and the same, a person who held profuse to his integrity, who had a deep interest in everything going on round him, who wanted to be quietly involved, who wanted to contribute in whatever way he could. There was to be a meeting at the synagogue a few weeks ago. He said to me I wont be able to make the meeting, but I should like to know your thoughts on it, and I would like to hear what happens. It was not a dying homophile who could not make that meeting, it was a man who was fully alive, who, if he was prevent by circumstances from doing what he wished, could yet find ways of victorious part. Just one week ago I spoke to him on the phone. He wanted to know what I was doing, and on Monday, as I promised, I put in the mail for him the text of some lectures that he wanted to see. He spoke little of sickn ess or discomfort, and was as pleasant and cheerful as always. It was fun to talk to him, a man a week away from a long anticipated death.