Posted on 11/04/2015 7:26:30 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
We're taking Larry deer hunting this weekend. After 35 years in the woods with Larry, sadly, this will be our last together.
After 40 years at the same job, he finally had enough and retired this past spring. He's a mere 62 years old.
He left his job on a Friday and started his new job the next Monday. Working at a local golf course. Cutting grass, doing maintenance, free lunch everyday and free golf on Mondays. He was in heaven.
About three months ago, his eyesight was suddenly failing him. The eye doctor said that there was something affecting his optic nerve and that he should quickly see a neurologist.
Four days later he was having brain surgery to remove as much of a brain tumor as they could. It was small, but growing quickly. They got some, but they couldn't all of it. Stage 4 myoblastoma. He's not going to make it.
And, of course, that sort of surgery has its drawbacks. His sight is pretty good now, but he is now paralyzed on his left side. He's left handed.
They didn't give him any assurances of long life with radiation and chemo, so he decided that rather than spend 3 days a week in a medical facility, he was going to stay in his home, with his family, instead.
That's Larry.
The crew took a vote and it was 9-0 in favor of bringing Larry for one last hunt with all of his friends. He's not actually going to hunt with us (he's in a wheelchair, fer cryin' out loud)but he will be there when we have the Friday night meal and all of the stories that will be told for the umpteenth time.
When he was told that he was, indeed, going to be a part of deer hunt 2015, he was more emotional than I have ever seen him. He's never been an emotional guy. That would be me.
So, he'll stay at the house with another friend of ours that doesn't hunt, a volunteer, and wait for a call from the woods letting him know that we filled his tag.
At first, he was against the whole idea, but now he can't wait to get on the road Friday.
This is going to be a special weekend. For a lot people. for a lot of reasons.
I visited him for a while last Friday. As I was leaving so he could have lunch and a nap, he said to me...
"Life's short. Run hard."
We love you, Larry. More than you will ever know.
Sorry to hear about your friend Larry. You are honoring his friendship and life in a personal way.
It means alot to Larry’s family too. Been through the mill with my Dad’s brain cancer and death. Dear friends are a comfort and blessing for everyone involved. God bless Larry and you too. You are doing a great thing for him.
Larry was embarrassed about the fact that he can’t take care of himself in the men’s room. His loving wife retired to take care of him.
He got emotional when we told him we were taking him hunting.
He didn’t want us to have to clean up for him.
Looked him straight in the eye.
“We’re family, Larry. That’s what we do.”
And then we hugged and wept.
This is truly going to be a special weekend.
Prayers up.
BTLD,
Geez. It’s a hard road. Every one is different. Prayers for your friend and his wife. My dad wanted no visitors towards the end. You are a wise person. Enjoy the day you have with Larry. I send my heartfelt prayers for all of you.
P.S. Towards the end my Dad lost his speech. Hugs and tears and just holding their hand is the best we can do. You are a good friend. It’s so very difficult. Be good to yourself too.
Thanks for your prayers, everyone.
We’re going to have a weekend to remember.
Praying for him and for everyone else ailing to have as good friends as Larry’s got.
Mmmmm....
Backstrap...
Just prayed for Larry.
*anonymous coward.* Meh.
Admin mod, please remove my post #36
I’m mistakenly posted it on a self-proclaimed *victim’s* thread. Mea culpa.
My Hubby is getting ready to leave for his deer stand, as I read this post about Larry. How sad. We totally understand how much it means to fill those deer tags. Life is precious . . thank you for the reminder.
You and your circle of friends are priceless. I am also blessed by being in a circle of friends like yours. Your post warms my heart!
“Life’s short, run hard.”
That’s the way I see it. I’m not waiting for retirement, I take more and more days to do the “when I retire” stuff right now. I hunt every hunt like it is my last, and fish every fishing outing as though it will be the last, and take my wife on dates with relish, or tell another undecided soul the Gospel Story, as arthrongis advances on my battered knees and my eyes fade. It helps that I live in No. AZ and the opportunities are all a short drive from the house. I’ve still got quite a few years to enjoy that as I turn 60 next month.
I’m not in bad health, just realistic about my own capabilities being limited by advancing age’s tendency to crepe in on life. Social security will not be there for me and my peers, so I’ll keep working all the while as well.
Life’s too short to stop living it before you die or to wait until you have the time upon retiring.
Then there’s a wonderful eternity, but that’s for another thread.
Dear Lord,
Look with favor on this, your humble servant, who approaches your door. Bless him and all his family and friends as this journey proceeds to a loving end. Send the comforter, Lord and let your Holy Spirit imbue him with strength and fortitude, safe in the knowledge of salvation available to him through the sacrifice of our dear Savior. Amen.
Prayers for Larry.
It’s great what you are doing for him. Labor Day 2005 I took my parents out on my then new boat to one of their favorite places - Cape Lookout NC. We spent a wonderful day. A year later Dad passed and Mom followed by the end of 2006. I will always have beautiful memories of that day on the water.
Already did at 62. That would be 2 years ago.
FMCDH(BITS)
Larry will be in my prayers.
If Larry was as good a friend to you as you are to him, then he’s lived right. Enjoy the hunt, Larry. And “run fast.”
This be the verse you carve for me:
"Here he lies where he longed to be.
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
Might just be the best hunt ever! Larry is a lucky guy to have friends like you. If it’s brown it’s down.
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