During Dragon Conn in Atlanta last week rumors flew about that my brother/cousin was gravely ill, wasn’t eating and had in fact had “Last Rites” administered. I just got off the telephone with him and he’s surrounded by laughing friends and relatives and is about to enjoy a shrimp-based bowl of gumbo. He got a chuckle out of news of his impending departure.

Go back and reread RJ’s blog entries and you’ll know exactly what is going on. Armed with those medical facts, if any of you have shared time with very ill relatives you’ll know what person looked like and felt like during the ordeal. RJ looks and feels just like that. So, we’re not taking any family photos at the moment.

Fact: He is ill, very ill. He has shared that with you in medical jargon. He has told you the prognosis of his physicians and told you that he plans to beat their predictions. I pray that he will. But should it not be in the cards, he’ll manage that phase of his life as he has every step he has taken thus far. So, should you hear another “rumor” it’s just that. Until you hear it from RJ, Harriet or from me, it’s just a rumor.

Fact: He’s told you that his appetite comes and goes. It does. He’s taking a handful of medications everyday to help him in the fight. Unfortunately some of them have adverse affects on the appetite. Pretty much like a kid in that regard right now. He eats when he feels up to it, and says “No Thanks!” when he doesn’t. When I visited a couple of weeks back he had a hankering for Cream of Mushroom soup served with rice and a dash of tabasco. RJ and Harriet were busy in the parlor, so I whipped up the soup. He told me it was good, but not as good as when Harriet prepares it. Duh!?!?

Fact: The deacon from his church visits their home for weekly worship services and to bring communion. RJ doesn’t feel up to sitting on two hundred year old wooden pews for an hour. Painful even for someone in the peak of health, which you know RJ is not. These visits are to share communion, which is a weekly (at least) part of RJ and Harriet’s lives. Same goes for Janet and me. When RJ is physically stronger, he’ll be back on the hard pews. I hope that whatever your faith that you are able to “Commune” with God often.

Bottom line guys, he’s been completely forthcoming with you from the very beginning of this ordeal. He intends to continue that dialog. When he and I spoke a few minutes ago, I asked if he wanted to end this rumor or for me to do it? I then reminded him that the last time he wrote you he was feeling as he put it “a bit viperish” and that his posting had kicked over a huge ant hill. He allowed that perhaps I should write you guys this time. Calmer heads and all.

Keep the prayer lines open please. He’s a stubborn old cuss but welcomes, appreciates, yes even needs your collective petitions to our God. I’ll be seeing RJ and Harriet in a week and will give them a hug and an “I Love You” from each and every one of you.

Thanks for caring.

Peace be with each of you,

Wilson
Brother/Cousin
4th of 3

Epilog: Yes he is continuing to work through all of this medical calamity. MOL is going into the word processor and onto audio tapes almost daily. Not every day mind you, because the medical fight takes first priority. But, he told you he’d finish and he will. Fact is that it has been finished in his head for years. During a recent family sit around, he became the Gleeman and told the bones of it ALL to Harriet and me. You read that right, I did say ALL. Don’t ask, ain’t telling. Two and a half hours of story telling by the Creator himself went by in the twinkling of an eye. Truly magical. All I can say is WOW! Best stuff he’s ever done. MOL is going to knock your socks off! That’s a promise.