Leslie Hawes Fisher was my step-father for a scant 8 years. He was a good man, when my brother and I met him for the first time we were very thankful that he had entered our mother’s life. I love my mother very much, but she does have a habit of believing people and seeing only the best in them, which has led to her being taken advantage of more times than I care to remember. So, Zech and I were happy that she and Les were together, we no longer had to worry about her as we had in the past. During the time they were married, my mother finished earning her degree from East Carolina University, her and Les travelled to Hawaii and Europe, and we all came to know and love many of Les’s cousins and family. Les’s health began declining a few years ago, at first it was little things, not being able to stand for as long as he used to, having more and more trouble working the clutch and brake on his Mustang GT, etc… By last Thanksgiving he was barely able to move around, and only then with assistance. Shortly after the Christmas of 2005, Les was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Changes started happening more and more rapidly, culminating with him not being able to eat or speak clearly on Saturday June 24th. I was here looking after him that day, allowing my mom to take a break and go into town. Laura was here with me as well (as an aside, Laura has been a simply wonderful, supportive friend and more through this whole ordeal.) I had to start teaching Summer Ventures at ECU the following Monday, so I commuted from my Mom’s house to Greenville everyday. While on my lunch break Wednesday afternoon I called to check in and see how things were going, my mom was in town with family getting the checking account, etc… in order, but Les’s day-nurse (a great woman by the name of Clarice) informed me that his health was declining rapidly. I immediately left Greenville, by the time I arrived, Les was non-responsive, basically in a comatose state. My mom had not returned from town yet so I waited outside to meet her and let her know about the change in Les’s state before she walked in to see him herself. That night was one of the longest in my life, I allowed my mother to sleep while I stayed up administering Les his medicine every three hours. The next morning there was no change in Les’s condition. I stayed up a little longer, slightly delirious, joking with the day nurse and relatives that were gathering. I was getting ready to sleep when Clarice called me into the room. Les’s face had turned an ashen gray, within a couple of minutes he made one last gulping breath, and his lips turned from a soft pink to the same color grey as his skin almost instantaneously. What followed after the initial shock was a whirlwind of phone calls, people in and out, saying my final good-byes, and looking after my mom. Laura was nice enough to come down and be with me and help out even though I hadn’t had the nerve to ask her. People showed up, we had the visitation, we had the funeral, my mom had her house gutted by relatives, and I managed to get my mother to go on a several day road trip with her brother to get away from it all. The final kicker: This Monday, July 10th would of been her and Les’s anniversary.

Initially I was busy, concerned for my mother, helping her out, running interference between her and well-meaning friends and family that were crushing in all around her. It is only now, a week and a day later that I sit and write this that I realize how deep an affect this whole experience has had on me. I am moving in with my Mother next month for a little while, ostensibly to be there with her during this transitional time, but the truth is I am also in need of some time. Some time to work and not worry about school, some time to read books for pleasure not just for class, some time to reflect and organize this thing called Dan. Thanks to everyone who has been there for me through this time, I love and appreciate all you’ve done more than you could possibly know. Even if it was just a phone call or email, it all helps…quite a bit.