Calendar Girl Blog: Make It Beautiful
My friend Henry is in the final stage of his 50 odd year life on this planet. Last evening around 80 people appeared at the Palliative Care Centre, and arranged themselves outside his hospital room window. Bundled up in multiple layers, we stood in the snow and sang Christmas carols.
The wild west wind howled along in harmony.
Similar groups of Henryheads were meeting in three other cities to sing for a man they loved.
Henry was not the mayor of Guelph. He did not belong to a famous band or perform on stage. Nor was he a rich business man.
Henry planted trees. He was an arborist.
I have 5 of Henry's trees in my backyard. All grown from seed by Henry. Seed that he collected in the many forests that he roamed, across the continent. One, a Tulip Tree is taller than my two story house. Last week, during an afternoon with Henry, I told him that my trees sent their regards and that the Tulip trees were talking about him. Faintly, but with absolute knowing, Henry replied. "Tulip trees love to talk. They'll always do that."
A few years ago, one of my non-Henry trees was clearly dying. Out of sheer hope for some form of magical intervention, I invited Henry over to offer his prognosis.
Henry: Your tree is dying.
Me: Why would my tree die?
Henry: It's what they do.
Calendar Girl feels blessed for having shared 20 years of friendship and many exceptional moments with a person so distinct and wise as Henry. The scrap of paper taped to her file box with the following Henryism scrawled across it defines the spirit of the man perfectly. "Make it Beautiful."
Calendar Girl
PS. The following links lead to further postings about my journey with Henry and Anne. Each are date and time stamped and written in real time. Or, you can go here and start reading the latest post.
Winter Solstice
Henry Christmas Eve
Henry Christmas Day
Henry Boxing Day
Henry Time
Henry's Quilt
Where Am I?
New Years Eve
Tag: Henry Kock
The wild west wind howled along in harmony.
Similar groups of Henryheads were meeting in three other cities to sing for a man they loved.
Henry was not the mayor of Guelph. He did not belong to a famous band or perform on stage. Nor was he a rich business man.
Henry planted trees. He was an arborist.
I have 5 of Henry's trees in my backyard. All grown from seed by Henry. Seed that he collected in the many forests that he roamed, across the continent. One, a Tulip Tree is taller than my two story house. Last week, during an afternoon with Henry, I told him that my trees sent their regards and that the Tulip trees were talking about him. Faintly, but with absolute knowing, Henry replied. "Tulip trees love to talk. They'll always do that."
A few years ago, one of my non-Henry trees was clearly dying. Out of sheer hope for some form of magical intervention, I invited Henry over to offer his prognosis.
Henry: Your tree is dying.
Me: Why would my tree die?
Henry: It's what they do.
Calendar Girl feels blessed for having shared 20 years of friendship and many exceptional moments with a person so distinct and wise as Henry. The scrap of paper taped to her file box with the following Henryism scrawled across it defines the spirit of the man perfectly. "Make it Beautiful."
Calendar Girl
PS. The following links lead to further postings about my journey with Henry and Anne. Each are date and time stamped and written in real time. Or, you can go here and start reading the latest post.
Winter Solstice
Henry Christmas Eve
Henry Christmas Day
Henry Boxing Day
Henry Time
Henry's Quilt
Where Am I?
New Years Eve
Tag: Henry Kock
posted by Sue Richards at 10:45 AM
7 Comments:
Henry sounds like a wonderful person. Seems like you have both been blessed tremendously.
Michele sent me.
Sorry you are losing this wonderful sounding man...
Hope his passing is as gentle and eassy as possible.
I'm here from Michele, today..
I have known Henry for most of my life. He is someone that I have always looked at with awe and amazement. He is so strong and despite his illness he has remained so until the end. He is loved dearly and will be missed greatly by all.
Hi Sue...It is amazing to me how many links there are to Henry. He was truly an amazing man and I am just so sorry that he has to leave this planet when he has still so much to offer.
Thanks so much. A beautiful tribute toa beautiful person. AAE
Beautifully said, Sue. Thank you.
Henry is held in each of many hearts ~ unforgettably. As a neighbour and acquaintance, he offered wise, kind, timely, and powerful encouragement to our transformation of our yard into a 'natural woodland'. He has always been an Arborist Angel whose influence abides. So does his special humanity, a bright blessing to us all, past, present and future.
KWP
Thank you for writing about Henry. This was the only information I could find on the Internet. Since I met Henry in the mid 1990's he has been one of the most influential people in my life (even though he hardly knows me). He is the kind of person I hope to someday be like (or more realistically get close to being like). He taught me so very much, he inspired me to become an arborist, he helped me out whenever I asked. The world just isn't going to be the same without him. I will miss him so very much.
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