Uncle Bill

Uncle Bill passed away this morning around 5. 

I got to spend Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with him and aunt Deb in the hospital. 

Deb thought it was outlandish to pay ten cents per Irish cream packet so she dumped 10 creamers in her little bit of coffee and stuffed 17 more packets in her pocket for good measure. She also made sure to stash away some cookies. We had a great time together full of laughs.

I stayed up until 4 am on Monday night beside Bill's bed. I sang whatever song came to mind for awhile, lots of choir songs, Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons, and even Allstar by Smashmouth. I read different passages from The Book Thief, my favorite book and a very beautiful fitting story. I fell asleep holding his hand and leaning against the bed for a half hour but my fallen asleep arm and the very hard chair weren't on my side. My nap reminded me of sleeping on Bill's back when he carried me around in the yellow toddler backpack in the keys. I'm not sure if I remember being carried or if I've just imagined based on the picture.

Bill didn't look like he was wasting away the way that other people do as they die. He was strong all through and was the prescense of the room rather than a victim of the room as other patients might be. I like to imagine what animal a person is like. At first as I looked at uncle Bill I thought lion. But that was far to common and male lions are lazy. I sifted through other big cats but they weren't right. 

I look at him as a Bison. His hair, as my aunt Deb said, was beautiful. His beard has always been there and it was great and welcoming. His arms were mighty and covered with burly hair. I held his warm hand for my own comfort, not just his. The sight of my uncle gave me an image of a Bison in repose. Great and big and strong, stern toward what he disapproved of, but inviting to the many that he loved. 

I want to capture that image in a painting of me facing Bison Bill, and his mountains in the background. I ordered a necklace of a bison and earrings of bison mid charge to honor and remember and keep him with me.

Thank you friends and family for the support you've given and please help me to continue to support my aunt Deb through the loss of her best friend. Bill will live on with her forever through spirit.