He had a wicked scar on his arm from when he was working for CPS in the 70's and got knifed.
He bowled every Friday.
He gave a ride to one of his mother's friends who lives in a retirement home every other Thursday for a social event.
On the weekends he volunteered at PAWS.
He didn't smoke, didn't drink, but loved to gamble. He would go to the casino a couple times a month.
Before insurance he worked as a paralegal, before that he was a hair dresser, before that he taught court reporting and was a court reporter. I think he was most proud of his teaching. He was a meticulous worker.
He was incredibly patient and giving with his time, energy, and money with his sister who has dementia even though it sounded like it was a very difficult situation.
He had a long time partner who was younger and worked a lot, when I asked him if they'd ever get married he seemed ambivalent.
Last year he got two cats and he complained about their pissing and scratching everything but he really loved having pets of his own.
He had some flooding issues and was getting some renovations done and talked about his house quite a bit, it was a hassle but I think he enjoyed having a big project.
He was passed retirement age and whenever I asked him about it he would always say next Fall, next year, next Spring. I think he liked the social aspect of work the most and didn't want to give that up.
At our job we got free lunch and he always agonized about what to pick each day, then he'd take two bites of whatever it was and then try to give it to someone else in the office.
He loved chicken and rice.
After our work holiday parties he would take the leftovers and give them to homeless people camped out on Lower Wacker.
We talked every day in the office and a fair amount this past year when we were working from home on the phone. The minimum duration for these conversations was usually 45 minutes.
He talked and I mostly listened and unless I had work piling up that was alright with me.
He had a lot of stories and a lot of opinions and led an eclectic life.
We talked a fair amount of shit about work.
He taught me everything I know about my job and I learned a lot from him professionally and otherwise.
Last Christmas he wanted to get me something I could use so he got me Juul pods, he was nervous about it because he didn't smoke or vape or know anything about that stuff, it was four packs which is pretty expensive, they were menthols which isn't my flavor but I was touched and never mentioned that and used them anyway.
He came with some of my co-workers to one of my improv shows and, I think, had a really good time. He always encouraged me wholeheartedly with my creative endeavours and seemed to be really tickled and excited by the fact I was a performer.
He went to a fair amount of musicals, plays, bailes, and concerts and mostly seemed to enjoy them unless he fell asleep which he would always admit to if he did.
At our job after you've worked there for ten years you get a three month paid sabbatical.
He hit the mark last year and was planning this big trip to Italy, where he'd never been but always wanted to go and was really excited about it.
Then COVID hit right after he started his sabbatical and he couldn't go and he got COVID during that time too so it turned out to be a pretty big bust and he seemed really happy to return to work.
He got COVID again mid-December.
Was hospitalized.
Lost the ability to communicate.
And passed away this weekend.
And that's life and I can accept that.
I don't think anyone is going to get out of this without losing someone.
That's a heartbreak, a grief, we're all going to have to carry.
And I'm not one to debate the unfairness of it all.
He had a good life, 70 years plus, he saw a lot, did a lot, made a profound impact.
But what I can't accept.
What seems to me, cosmically unfair.
Is that he never got to see Italy.
He never got his trip that he planned for, that he saved for, that he dreamed about for years.
For whatever reason in this tragic situation that strikes me as the most heartbreaking.
Because I know he would have loved it.
He would have been so happy.
His name was Early and I will remember him.
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