Five years ago my best friend “Smitty” called me (he had retired to Miami Beach and I live out West), he was having trouble swallowing food.
Richard had smoked Camel cigarettes and joints every day that I had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
We are old hippies - I had grown into a conservative businessman and He remained a Willie Nelson lookalike hippie.
Richard Smith was the only truly honest and descent man I ever knew.
His integrity helped change me from a ethically challenged youngster to a responsible man, citizen, husband and father.
In the spring I would go fishing in Florida and visit the old crew.
But his first call soon was followed by another - he had throat cancer. And was entering the hospital.
From that time on I communicated with his twin brother. He was never able to eat again. The cancer had spread and Richard was sent home with painkillers.
He could not speak nor eat, the pain was horrific and his cognitive awareness deteriorated to the point where he was readmitted to the hospital and died a horrible combative death.
I miss him.
God bless those who help us make these choices when our time draws near and I pray for those who choose.
He sounds like a wonderful person. I am sorry that he died in such an awful way. What a shame. My mother died a similar death from brain cancer. 2 1/2 years of chemo and radiation, she deteriorated slowly and lost control of almost everything but her brain. She had horrible pain, and they never could get ahead of it, even when hospice came in. I have never felt so helpless.
It is good to know there are some old hippies out there. It was a little before my time, but I remember seeing them and thinking how cool their lives must be.