I vowed years ago to avoid the obituary section of the newspaper. Alas, as the years go by, I find myself glancing at "obits" because it might include people I know. So much for my "vow".
My Monday morning golf league is for retired men. The ages range from the late 50's to guys in their 80's. Golf partners are random based on the tee-times you select. Over the last several years I found myself regularly paired with Frank. He was in his early 80's and he always wore long sleeved shirts with a high neckline. He had a keen sense of humor. You could tell he was "grounded" by the stories he told. There was mental anguish when he talked of losing a big oak tree in a storm. You'd think the horses on his farm were his kids. You get the idea. Frank was a really nice guy.
It turns out that Frank Wright was a medical doctor (a general practitioner). In the early days, he actually made house visits. He ended up with severe radiation exposure from holding the arms and legs of kids while their broken bones were being x-rayed. Constant exposure to radiation gave him the lifetime allowance of millirads. He could not take anymore radiation. So he wore long sleeved shirts with high collars and a broad brimmed hat to protect from the sun. He also developed cancer. He began to get random tumors on his body and they couldn't use radiation to destroy the tissue. The cancer kept reoccuring.
Frank died this week. I'm going to miss him on the first tee. He was my expert source of information on most medical aches and pains I experienced. I'm sure Frank had no regrets. He lived! My how he lived!
The lesson Grasshoppers is that you meet many people along the path of life. Most have something positive to offer. Even though these encounters are for short periods of time, they can have a profound impact on you. Listen for the meaning!
Love,
Dad