The two families continued to keep in touch. John traveled quite often because of his work. Whenever he was in the Los Angeles area, he would go and visit Ted and Megan. Sometimes, when his schedule allowed, he would stay at their house for a couple of days. Although Ted got over his cancer, he never regained his full physical strength. The one time John saw him in 2010, he had to walk with the help of a cane.
Last November John traveled to China on a business trip. While he was there he received an e-mail from Dennis, Ted and Megan’s son.
Part of the e-mail read:
“Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep two nights ago. When he was alive, he would often tell Mom and me about the good times he had in Vallejo, the wonderful lasagna you cooked, the everybody-said-it-was-good-but-nobody-dared-go-back-for-a-second Thai fish that Dad prepared, and how you let him slide on the rent when he was sick. That was a difficult time for our family and especially for Dad.”
“Last Christmas we had a small party at home. Like he always did, Dad sang a few songs for the guests. One of the songs was titled I Never Know. Dad later told me that he wrote that song shortly after the divorce from Mom and separation from me. He said that he first sang it in a party and he believed you were there. Since his reconciliation with Mom and came back home to Los Angeles he had added a few stanzas toward the end. I don’t know if he ever sent it to you. If he didn’t, I am sure he would like you to have it. From the abyss of his despair and sickness that lasted for so many years, he returned a loving husband and a dear father again. Both Mom and I think that your friendship and kindness had a lot to do with his recovery. Thank you for being such a good friend!”
As a matter of fact, John did receive a copy of that song from Ted a few years back. It came as an insert in a Christmas card. Ted said that he would always remember how John and the other friends helped him in Vallejo and the added lyrics to the song were his way of saying thanks.
At that moment Ted was singing it to Allah in Heaven and John could hear it all the way from his hotel room in China.
*** The End ***
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