Tuesday 15 July 2008

Dearest DJ. R.I.P.


We knew we were nearing this time, but expected ‘the day and the hour’ to be a while away yet. We were wrong.

Thankfully we had visited him in his Respite accommodation most days over last week, and had spent much of Sunday afternoon with him out in the sunshine in their garden. Though dozing much of the time, he clearly enjoyed both his own and my tea and egg custard pies, and surprised us with an appreciative comment regarding the roses. (He spent many years in his own garden, and cultivated beautiful roses which gave both him and his wife such joy). He was settled, appeared comfortable and at peace. This reportedly continued after we left. He enjoyed his supper and a later snack, and was sitting quietly in the communal lounge, apparently dozing in accustomed fashion.
But he had slipped away to The Next Realm. He had been so ready and waiting – and so impatient - to Go for so, so long.

May he Rest In Peace.

5 comments:

Pencefn said...

Maj DJ Rest in Peace. It is nice to hear that his last hours were spent with you and TH enoying the nice weather that we had on Sunday.

My prayers are with TH and yourself.

Layclerk said...

May he rest in peace and rise in Glory.

ChickPea said...

Thank you, pencefn and lay clerk for your kind thoughts. x

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Chickpea....I cried when I read this. Dementia is such an evil demon. Though it's hard for you....remember the hell he was in when he was here. Read my blog: My Mother's Smile to see how we are suffering along with her. Peace to you.

I came here from David's authorblog.

Layclerk said...

Carol, Just a small point if I may be so bold, and I mean no offence, quite the reverse in fact.

I don't know for sure, and I'm not a betting man, but I'd place a small sum of money on DJ NOT in fact being in hell while he was here, but rather he was surrounded by his loving family and friends, particularly ChickPea and TH, which is a very important thing to remember.

Clearly latterly he was not in as good a place in his life as he formerly was when he was a younger and fitter man, and I would never think for a moment to play down the very real and very great problems and heartache which dementia obviously brings to the sufferer and those around him/her, some of which have been outlined very movingly by ChickPea (I too have shed tears over this Blog) but although he is now in a better place, he wasn't in hell while he was here.

In my opinion anyway.