Herb

Herb died today. He was in him mid-eighties, and still it was a shock to learn of his death. He has been in declining health since we have known him. When we first met Herb, he was encased in a halo since he had some type of fall and broke his neck. He wore the halo for some months while his body repaired the break in the vertebrae. He seemed to take his misfortune in stride and never complained of his predicament to us.

Recently, Herb fell onto the floor and his wife, Connie, could not get him back up, so she called the office for help. Several of us responded, and one who had medical training examined him, and finally we got Herb back into a chair. His next accident was to break his foot, suffered in another fall. He wanted his walking cast off and demanded that Connie bring him scissors so that he could cut the cast off. Wisely, she ignored him even though in his best military manner he demanded that she follow his orders. Yesterday they went to see the doctor and on the way home stopped at the James Avery jewelry factory, and Connie left Herb in the car while she dashed inside to get some jewelry for a grandchild. When she returned, Herb was gone out of the car. He had gotten out and had fallen, hitting his head, and was lifted by air ambulance to a hospital in San Antonio. The pressure of the fall was too much for his head, and he was declared brain dead. Taken off life support, Herb, later this morning, died.

So no more old curmudgeon to talk with, but I suspect Herb is in a better place, and Connie will no longer have to try to care for an increasingly unwell husband. Herb, I will miss you.