How do you write a short memory about a beloved friend of nearly 50 years? George was the kindest, gentlest person I've ever known. I remember when we celebrated his 50th birthday at the B&I. He told me a year or so ago that he still had the gift I gave him that day, but I didn't have the heart to tell him I couldn't remember what it was. I shared in George and Florence's grief when they lost their son Kevin in a drowning accident. And, when Keoki was bitten in the face by a St. Bernard. I cried with George when he lost his beloved wife, Florence... George never allowed her memory to fade ... he visited her gravesite at Mountain View every single day and shared his troubles, his bowling score and his activity of the day with her. When I needed a Halloween costume for our B&I Halloween Party, he loaned me his judogi and blackbelt ... while a bit too big in width, it was perfect in length because we were the same height. He loaned my sister and I his RV to take to a dog show for the weekend ... we named it "Buddha" because he had a fat little Buddah statue glued to the dashboard. We loved going out to lunch, which we did almost once a month after he finished bowling while I lived in WA. We talked on the phone frequently until his hearing started to fade, then it went to texting. George was one in a million. I wasn't aware his health was failing after he had his pacemaker installed. I should have made a bigger effort to check on him ... I always thought he'd out live me. But, I knew he was beginning to slow down and I was trying to find a day I could fly up there for lunch but I had so many issues with my newborn puppies I wasn't able to get away. I feel so sad about that. To lose your oldest and dearest friend without being able to give him a final hug and kiss makes it even more difficult to bear. I know he wouldn't want me to be sad or cry tears for him, but it's impossible to deal with my sense of loss.
Georgie, you're with Florence and Kevin again so I know you're smiling and happy. I love you, I miss you ... It hurts so much because I don't know how to say goodbye to my hero, my friend so, I'll just leave it with Rest in Peace, I'll look you up when I get there.