I stopped by New England Life Care, a nursing home/rehab facility, not unlike Rivercrest, to see my buddy, Noland. This was my third visit. His bed was made, his chair, brought from home, empty. I had a present for him.
“I’m looking for Noland. Is he is at rehab?”
The nurse looked at me and hesitated.
“No he’s not. Who are you? Are you close to him, are you family?”
“I’m close family.”
“Let me look to see if you are on his list.”
“Okay, I’m not on the list. But… .”
“He’s in the hospital.”
I called Emerson to see if he had a room. He did not. I visited with Flo, shopped for dinner and then called his wife, Shirley. She answered, distantly.
“What’s up Shirley?”
“Noland just died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We were in the emergency room for most of the day. He was going to be transferred to Critical Care. I went home for a moment and Dr. Green called… .”
adam
Thinking of why Mike was glad the son had been allowed to be with his father through the failed resuscitation of Sirens, I hope Shirley either doesn’t imagine to need, or can find the means, to forgive herself. There are those who would argue [N]oland waited for her absence to spare her the moment, but from this ignorant remove I leave that in the reach department. Flights of angels you old warhorse.
Fierce Baby
For a million reasons, some of which some of us never understood, [N]oland was Mikey’s friend. That we did understand. And we are sad for him at the loss of his friend.
jennifer
When did this happen? Today? Are you getting paranoid yet? (I’m considering holding you responsible for Beatrice.)
Oddly enough, I think my regrets would go the other way, Adam. I would worry (if my husband died while I was IN the emergency room with him) that my presense had lulled people into a false sense that everything was ok, and I might have been too polite to bug people if I noticed a change. On the other hand, I would be SAD. My Great Aunt died on Christmas, while NOT visiting at my house (which she usually did at Christmas). I remember I felt hurt, but my mother said that she had done me a service, to not die at my house. (Then a month later my mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and 6 months after that died at her home.) I thought it was very nice that someone was holding her hand.
I’m sorry about Noland, Michael.
jennifer
Oops, I left out a thought, so that was unclear. I meant (in my paragraph to Adam) that it’s no win — I’d feel more challenged to forgive myself if I had been there, but I’d feel more sad if I had been away.
chris
Mike, you said this today, that it was a matter of time. Very prescient of you. I know you were fond of this man and I understand the reasons why. From what you’ve told us, it seems that it would have been Noland’s preference to not have Shirley there. He kind of did things his own way. RIP.