Carrots and Beer

Reuben appreciating a Rhododendron

My wife Haruko and I skipped work this morning to pay a visit to my long-time friend, Reuben Hatch. Many Flora Wonder Blog readers know of RH, that we have travelled together on countless capers in the Western states, as well as in Europe and Asia. Those days are past, sadly, because RH is confined to a full-care nursing home in Vancouver, and is administered to by well-fed African women with shiny foreheads.

RH's attendants can speak a little English, but I fear that most patients in the house are either incoherent or they often complain, so the intercourse is rather clipped.

RH is a griper, for sure, and he never misses a chance to complain about the food. On our last visit to his room there was a knock on the door with the announcement of “lunch.” The woman came in with a tray with a very large sandwich, some grapes I think, and a white plate full of carrots. It looked to me like a week's worth of rations, and indeed RH was impressed with the pile of carrots. He said he asked for three only, then proceeded to scoot them into an orderly lineup. “Wwone, Tooo, Threee...until the last at Niiine.”

RH doesn't have it so bad, really, and he is allowed half a beer every day. He drank a beer a day for most of his 87 years, so what's the harm now?

Lunch was our cue to leave, but once we were out the door I muttered, “Shut up and eat your damn carrots; this evening you'll get your beer.”

Haruko at the Portland Rose Garden

Today on the way to Vancouver I surprised Haruko with a detour. I said I wanted to stop at the Portland Rose Garden. And I wanted her to play a song, something for Reuben. I further surprised her by bringing a lunch. Out of my bag I pulled out 9 carrots and a beer. I told Haruko that if we were going to see Reuben we would have to do it here...

Because he died yesterday. “I wanted to choose a nice place to tell you.”