I Lost a Friend Today

As I worked away in my hanger, showing a new friend the beginning points of upholstery. A young Mexican immigrant came running around the corner speaking some broken form of English. Said “ senior Craig, he need help, come fall…………..senior Craig, he no move…come HELP! Please, you come now!” As I slowly since some urgentcey, I begin that direction. Walking slowly at first then faster and faster, I think of all of the things they may need help moving or lifting. With a wild thought in the back of my mind, that something serious may be wrong. My worst fears all come into reality as I rounded the corner of his hanger door and saw my friends blue faced body lying on the cold concrete floor. I grabbed the cell to call 911. At the same time running back to my hanger to use a land line, as the cell in that area does not always work. This time it did! I reported “Man down!! Possible heart attach and / or HE fell!! Get here fast!” My new friend (overhearing the call) asked, “ Heart attach, do you need help?” She explained that she was a nurse. We both ran back to assess the situation and begin the eternity of a 7 minute mission of CPR, until the paramedics arrived. As they took over, nothing had really changed. I picture the surreal shaking and tensing of his body as they shock him over and over. Looking for a pulse they will never find. They load him up and rush off to the hospital saying “ It does not look good.” I was still optimistic. Thinking: This cannot have just happened! I just talked to him this morning. He’ll be okay, tomorrow, he will thank me for saving his life. And we will talk about the whole thing over a beer some late evening.

None of this was meant to be. He was gone!

As I have never delt with anything this close to home. I was not sure what to think or how to react. Time heals all, they say. I found it to be a little easier to write a little note, and send it to the people close me.

One friend sent back something that really touched me. This is what he wrote:

Shawn:

I took some liberties with your verse..... for good reason. I read your email to my wife and she pointed out that it was one of the most beautiful verses she had ever heard, with tears in her eyes. That's how it effected me also. Shawn, my friend....... if you can write like this, Then your a dam fool to be doing ANYTHING else...... This verse is worthly of submitting to publications such as the Readers Digest. Submitted with a short cover letter explaining the situation would ring the hearts of any editor. Read it ... let me know what you think of the slight changes I have made..... :-) Then think about developing this hidden talent....... Sandy

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So, to follow his advice, here you go Readers Digest. It came out something like this. I hope you enjoy!

I Lost a Friend Today

------------------------ by Shawn Puma ----------------------

I lost a friend today.

It was a simple event.

We had absolutely nothing to say.

There were no years of memories,

nor hallmark moments you treasure.

Little things jump up and catch you off guard,

like thoughts shared and ideas traded.

I am not a callous person and I tried to keep my friend.

Working from the depths of the heart,

to the beginning of where the words would start.

But it was no use.

Not a single thing would work no matter how hard I had tried.

All this to no avail,

because in my arms my friend had died.

Lives are precious and far to fragile.

Take care of your friends no matter who they are.

The friend you raise.

The friend who raised you.

The friend you lie next to every night.

Or the friend in the room down the hall as you grew-up.

Even the friend you don't know you have yet

All Friends!

Just let someone know you care.

I send this to you to let you know you are in my heart and I Care.

I'm doing OK now,

I can say Good Bye on a great note........................Could you?

God Bless, all the “Craigs” of the world, we’ll miss you.