I had a client about 8 years ago that I did a lot of display cabinet work, vintage woodworking restorations, etc. He had me working on a very sad looking English park bench. Teak wood on wrought iron frame. When I told him the cost of acquiring real teak and milling it to the original dimensions (super expensive, like scary) he didn't bat an eye. I had it all but assembled, brought the parts to him, and we talked about it, set a time to have me come out and assemble it over 100 year old single malt and a pipe. (Both, by the way, he was not supposed to indulge in any more, but he figured it was a special occasion, and his wife was gone overseas visiting family, so what harm could it be? She was due home that morning. I had a feeling in the back of my head I should have talked him out of indulging, but he was a personality type that would pat me on the head and say, "Bobby, I'm old enough to know what's best for me. When you get my age, you'll understand......."
We drank and smoked and I listened to his stories about the war over there, how he got the bench and how it was the one he proposed to his wife on. It was pretty late when I left.
I got a call from his wife at the airport. He had not come to pick her up, and asked me to drive her home. I had nothing scheduled, so I said 'sure', went to PDX and drove her to Charbonneau Golf Course, where they lived. When we came in, I saw he was sitting in the same chair, pipe I one hand and snifter in the other, looking out at the course. Well, not looking any more.............
The medical examiner put the time of death about an hour after I left. I told her what had transpired, and rather than being upset with me, and him, she said it was good that he got to talk to someone before he passed.
It was good that you were there to show your colleague some compassion and concern before he passed. It seems that any time is a good time to die, and you blessed him with your company before his passing. We are often all too busy flitting about to appreciate those around us.
