Long time apartment neighbors of Aunt Vi, Clarence and his wife were both 100 years old when I first met them last year.  Sadly, she  tripped over a curb while out doing errands several months ago and died after hip surgery.  Clarence, lost because they’d been married for more than 70 years, muddled along without her, but it became clear that he needed the additional help that living in assisted living would provide.

He moved into a lovely place three weeks ago, and Aunt V and I visited with him last week.  He looked great, and though he couldn’t hear worth a darn, even with the hearing aids in both ears, he enjoyed the company.  What man wouldn’t?  There he was with Aunt Vi, me, another woman from the apartment building and his niece.  One grinning guy surrounded by ladies.

We sat in the sunroom, with spring poking it’s shining face in the windows.  The ladies talked among themselves, then would poke Clarence and say “Tell Dawn that story about…” and after much yelling back and forth until he was sure which story they wanted, off he’d go.  His stories were long and funny, and I’m sure the others had heard them many times, but I hadn’t and I was charmed by this slight, stooped man with the twinkling eyes, sweet grin and big hands.

I asked him what he did when he was working.  He straightened up in his chair, suddenly the proud, strong man he must have been in younger days.  “I ran a gas station,” he said.  He told me where but I couldn’t place it, so I just smiled and nodded.  He talked about being a mechanic all his days, right up until he retired, which he still felt was just yesterday.

We had a really nice visit and as Aunt Vi kissed him goodbye she told him we’d be back for another.  We left him sitting in the sunny room, smiling and waving.  We were smiling too.

That’s the way I’m going to remember Clarence.  He died yesterday and I am as shocked as I would be if he were eighteen.    I just wasn’t ready, I’d had no warning.  And heck, I’m not even a relative and probably talked to him a total of 3 or 4 over the past year.  But still.

Clarence was a very cool man.  I’m sorry I didn’t get to know him better.  But I’m really glad we went to visit him last week and I got to hear his stories, laugh with him, shake his hand.

True loves just can’t be separated.  Clarence and his wife are together again.  And tonight we’ll be with Aunt Vi who clearly needs a hug.