bed is empty

/ Off Grid Islanders

There are days I forget about March 21/22, 2000.  But not many. Those days are the quiet lazy ones when we read and the day passes without incident. But on the busy days when we are facing a new challenge, I remember. I especially remember on the days when E is facing a  physically demanding challenge. When I see him on the roof dropping a dangerous tree or hanging off the cliff fixing the pipes from the water tank. When he carries 100 lb logs up off the beach to build a vegetable garden. I remember on the mentally challenging days when he figures out how to install an on demand hot water heater from a video on the internet… I remember and quietly take time to say thank you to another.

When E watched his three adult children move from elementary to high school and then on to graduate from University… I thanked another.

When he agreed to move to an off grid cabin on an island with me on the nature channel. I gave thanks to another.

Around nine pm on March 21st 2000, after waiting almost four months on the heart transplant list E got the call. The next 48 hours are a blur only remembered in detail with the help of the journal I kept. Without the journal many of the details would be lost. It exists to keep the reality of the experience alive. A record for the kids. At the time, a nurse told me I shouldn’t take pictures, to put my camera away. There were no digital cameras. I told her if things didn’t go well and I didn’t want to get the rolls of film developed I would have that choice.. But things went perfectly. We developed the pictures and when I look at them I always thank another.

Fifteen years later as we sit on the perch together watching the sunset, sharing a bottle of wine and counting the sea lions as they swim past. I always give thanks to another

Here is a link  to sign your organ donation card on-line. It is simple to do. I would urge you to do so and share the link. A selfless generous gift.. Life … pass it on….

Though there are days which pass when I forget the events of March in 2000, there is never an evening. Never a night I go to sleep without thinking how fortunate we are.  Wonder why we were exempted from the heartache that so many others face. But I know the answer, it humbles me and I give thanks. E lies beside me at night because another’s

bed is empty.

 

20 thoughts on “bed is empty”

  1. What an incredibly touching story. I simply can’t imagine what it must have been like to wait those 4 months together, and then the 48 hours essentially alone. You have a real talent for writing without which we wouldn’t have the privilege of seeing into your very special lives. E is a lucky guy in more ways than one!!

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  2. What an incredibly touching story. I simply can’t imagine what it must have been like to wait those 4 months together, and then the 48 hours essentially alone. You have a real talent for writing without which we wouldn’t have the privilege of seeing into your very special lives. E is a lucky guy in more ways than one!!

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