I discovered my dear friend D.W dead here recently, he lived next door. We both knew this day would come, and we both were prepared for it as best as possible... He was 65 and a diabetic I gave him his shot everyday. When I entered I knew something was not right, and I called out to him as I walked through the house to his bedroom. The bed was empty, and the house was dark, I herd water running and turned to the restroom, and there he was on the floor on his side. I went to him and there was no pulse and he was cold and his arm was stiff. Nothing could be done, it had been too long... I closed his eyes, and put a towel across his middle. He was old school, and very modest and wouldn't want folks gawking at him.
I let his little pug dog out, and went into the bedroom to get his drivers license & SS card for the law.
Got all his medications togather and put them there on the kitchen table as well. This wasn't my first rodeo on this situation, so I knew what to do for the authorities.
I went to his desk and got "the list" he had made it years before, of the things he wanted done when I found him "one day". There was a letter to me, and instructions on what to do and the order to do them in.
I followed his instructions to a tee. Just like he wanted.
I'm 45, and we had been best friends for over 20 years... I was a hot headed kid when we met, he was my boss. A grouchy old hard ass, who was tuff as nails. Hell he fired and rehired me 4 times, twice on the phone even!
He was my mentor, confessor, confidant, friend, and personnel advisor, sounding board, father figure, and "evil grand pa" to my children.
He was a mean, bitter old man with a real heart of gold, though few ever seen it... We did though, he was a hard ass to everyone else. Why I dont know, guess he was afraid of being hurt. He had 3 kids but only one would ever come see him. He was a man of means, and left it to his son and me 50-50. I was damn well surprised, never counted or even figured on that happening. The other 2 kids were very mad, but his will was ironclad.
He left me the house and the dog. LOL
I miss him, he was my best friend and a good man.