It took about five seconds of conversation to learn that our friend was a very proud man.
He was proud of his son and daughter-in-law, their good jobs, and most of all, that they were good people. He was proud of his grandkids. He was proud of his service in the United States Air Force, proud of being an American. He was proud of his work in the aerospace industry, which required that he and his family live in a faraway land for several years. He was proud of his late wife and often shared detailed stories of how they met in Washington, D.C., many moons ago. And he was proud of his Tesla; the Tesla he bought years before Tesla’s were a “thing.”
We had the privilege of helping him continue to live well, most often going to “tell lies with the guys” nearly every week at his favorite beer bar. What a privilege to model for his friends and the brewery staff what good dementia care looks like: people continuing to live well, live fully, live in community and with people, and out and about in public places.
We had the privilege of living a bit of our lives alongside him, and we will miss those times. It was an honor to help him live well and finish well.
Farewell, friend, and thank you for your service!
