LOSS (#25): A photograph can trigger so many emotions. When I saw the large group photo from one of our last Amigos Golosos lunches before the Pandemic on Robert Cooksey’s Facebook page yesterday, I realized how much I miss being with my good friends. Hopefully, most of us will get together again when the Pandemic passes.
In the photo I am standing next to Richard Hoch, like me a retired attorney. I didn’t know Richard very well, but we had a chance to talk. His daughter Sarah is the Executive Director of the Guanajuato International Film Festival. I told him one year I hoped to submit a short film to the festival, that just a rejection letter would be an accomplishment for me. We laughed and I could tell how proud he was of his daughter. I was looking forward to getting to know him better. Richard died from Covid-19 on Saturday, January 23rd, exactly one year from the day my friend and fellow Character Jon Sievert died of a heart attack.
A year later, Wendy Sievert says Jon was such a big presence that she sometimes expects him to walk into the room, and she still has a hard time going into his office. I remember how terrified I was when Cathy got sick in November. How must Sarah feel? Her father just died from Covid-19, her husband is in the hospital fighting it, and her mother has health problems. With the pandemic raging, all most of us can do is keep her in our prayers. God bless Sarah and her family.
Richard’s death has reinforced just how dangerous it is now for even small groups to get together. Horace Whittlesey has wisely cancelled the small outdoor Sunday brunches for the Amigos Golosos. Last week I wrote that a friend who lived across the street from our yellow house had died from Covid-19. When I have to walk into Centro I walk past her house and say a prayer.
The Pandemic has also scattered our friends. John Bohnel (seated in front of me) is in New Jersey, so no more lessons with the Sony a6500. We keep in touch because he is the new administrator for our private Facebook group, Americans Supporting Peaceful Protests, but it isn’t the same as having lunch or going to watch Woody play. Paula and Carl Oligny are in Georgia, but it was some comfort when Cathy was sick to know that they had the same symptoms, but we’re slowly recovering. John and Robyn Cole are in California. Jim Wasson and Penny are in Panama. Even if I could play golf, it wouldn’t be the same without them.
While living in Pass-a-grille Beach, we had the opportunity to get to know the mother of the neighbor who eventually bought our home to use as a guest house. She was from Virginia and I can only describe her as a fine Southern lady, but even that doesn’t do her justice. She moved to Florida to be near her son as she grew older. After she died, Howard told me he found her address book from Virginia. When a friend died she would draw a line through the entry and add the date of death. Every entry in the address book was crossed out!
We need to hold our friends close in our hearts, even though we can’t be together. I look forward to the day I can give all my friends a big hug. I love all of you!
