Sadness

[billeyler]

A few days ago, a friend of ours in the gay rodeo assn sent his list a note that one of the movers and shakers of the NMGRA was in a hospice, but visitors are welcome.

I was stunned. Bill Morris had been not as well as he could have been in his early 70s, but I chalked that up to the knee replacements he had had. I'm sure we had seen him and his partner of 40 or so years, C.A. Boliver, at Sidewinders doing a sweet waltz together as recently as April.

Neither of us knew he had advanced cirrhosis of the liver. We had only seen him drink in moderation, and I've known them for 20 years.

Today, Danny and I stopped by Lovelace Hospice to see him. I went in thinking he would be not well, but conversational, with his curmudgeonly ways intact. His partner's sister in law was there with Bill, but Bill was totally out and extremely yellow, barely recognizable.

From what I could learn, he was hospitalized about 3 weeks ago, and until even last night, he could talk. Today, he was barely able to even wake up, and may or may not have known us...Danny thinks Bill smiled a bit at Danny, because he always loved his British voice. But then he dropped off into wheezy snores in just moments. We know that it'll be over in a couple of days at most.

These are good people, country people. I know C.A. will get through this, but he's well into his 70s himself, and his life of being a rancher has taken its own toll. They must have 100s of friends they've accumlated through the years, and of course we're just on the periphery.

But we can send good thoughts.

Comments

[pdxchuck.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about this. Definitely sad. You chose an appropriate picture for this post. Both of them in their 70s. Wow. Talk about true spirits and pioneers, especially to have had a 40 year relationship, and to be ranchers on top of that! Wow. I guess those are the true heroes.

[redsquared.livejournal.com]

That is sad. It is hard to see a friend deteriorate and it is always hard on the ones left behind. It was fortunate that your friends had 40 years together.