A Husband Plans His Retirement
An excerpt from next Sunday’s "Bucket List," Story XXII.
I will come down with what appears at first to be a bad flu at Thanksgiving. I will die the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
A day after returning to the States from our home, our children will immediately fly back to France for the service, which will be on the 3rd.
It will be difficult to find a pastor locally who speaks English well enough for the English-only speakers at the funeral.
During a toast at the reception, my son will name all fifty-eight people and thank each of them individually for coming so far.
That evening, Ellie will ask to walk Lord into town. This will be the first time she’s walked him alone. My wife and daughter will agree.
After the children return to America, my wife will begin to walk him regularly, even dutifully.
She will have to.
This is extremely important. She needs to walk him.
And then he's gone... The family seem Succession-like in their transoceanic nonchalance, but vulnerable, Lord their (large-pawed) ballast.
Lordy loo!