[mou] Left Binoculars at Home.

[Richard J Specht]

Thanks for sharing this Mike!  I am seem to be surrounded with these type
situations right now and I agree with you about how insignificant (in the
scheme of things) it is to squabble about King Rails, etc.  It is a free
country so it is fine for those who enjoy doing such a thing.   I don't
bother reading them so I sure don't want to pass judgement but I sure
hope that those for whom these are really important issues are thankful
for their blessings since they are likely not experiencing those like you
mentioned below.  It is good to get grounded periodically about what is
really important in life.

Rick Specht


On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 16:58:13 -0600 "Michael Hendrickson"
<smithville4@charter.net> writes:
> I didn't go to Minneapolis to go birding, I didn't bring my scope nor 
> my binoculars. I had to do something that was hardest thing I could 
> ever do. Say good bye to my 16 yr old nephew who is suffering from 
> cancer.
> 
> Jake was at Fairview Children' Hospital, a place that made me want 
> to pick up every child and hold them. It was the most moving and 
> saddest place I ever been to. Seeing children walking around with 
> cancer and parents trying so hard to make thier lives happy was so 
> emotional on me.
> 
> When I got there I greeted my sister (mother of Jake) and we talked 
> a little and she said " Do you want to see Jake now?" I was so 
> scared and nervous as I didn't want to see my little Jake. I knew he 
> lost weight and I knew he had some serious tumbles in the last week 
> and I was nervous. I bit my lip and entered the room. There Jake 
> rested slightly up with his favorite stocking cap on and breathing 
> thru a air ventilator. Jake was drugged up and my sister wanted him 
> to rest and be comfortable. I grabbed Jake's left hand and said " 
> Jake your uncle Mike is here,  how do you feel?" Jake gives me a 
> thumbs up with his right hand. After that the nurse came in and 
> upped the drugs so he can remain in a dream like state.
> 
> This was the last time Jake communicated and it was with me! This is 
> taking a hard toll on me and I have been doing nothing but crying 
> for the last 4 days. I been mourning Jake since he was diagnosed 
> with cancer 2 years ago.
> 
> When I left the hospital to do a errand for my sister and for some 
> reason I began to think about last topic on MOU lstserve and how we 
> squabbled about birds, MOURC, King Rails and Gyrs. I think its so 
> odd in one world there are people like those at Fairview fighting 
> for thier kids lives and there is this other world of birding and 
> were fighting and flaming each other over the status of birds in MN, 
> MOURC and other inside politics of birding in Minnesota.
> 
> Jake and I were close as I am with my sister. Jake is still alive as 
> I type this but I know he's right in a better place. I know in my 
> heart, this episode with Jake and cancer has really soften me a lot. 
> Put in a perspective that there our diffently more things important 
> than birding. Birding is a great hobby to escape to but the little 
> spats and the control issues with the hobby is crap!
> 
> I miss Jake and I will miss all the times we laughed and all the 
> time we spent together. The hardest thing was to walk in his room 
> this morning and say goodbye for the last time. My sister and I 
> hugged. Cancer sucks!
> 
> Hopefully my head will be on straight for the April 3-4 MOU Trip. 
> 
> I wanted to share my events yesterday and today because I hope to 
> put in perspective in regards to our last chat or debate on birding 
> in Minnesota. I know there are some thinking this was a odd posting 
> and it doesn't belong here but to me it helps with the healing. I 
> know so many of you thru MOU Trips and just thru birding, I wanted 
> to share my feelings. I hope that is ok with you all.
> 
> I am tired and rung out. I feel the Stone Cold Mike is melted down 
> to a hobbit Mike.
> 
> Thanks for your time
> 
> Mike Hendrickson


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