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Show 223 This disease has lost us our friends. Where there was once free and easy conversation and humorous camaraderie, there is now awkwardness. Thoughtless and carefree comments meant in jest were never before taken seriously but with the intrusion of this disease into our lives, there is contemplation before speech; overlong thought before words. We can no longer simply go to the movies or to a concert or ball game, and even just going out to dinner is not only unaffordable now, it is imprudent. The effort of maintaining our friendship has proven to be too great. Our friends do not come by any longer and when we call them, excuses are offered. Like Hy, Max is bald. Hy inherited it. Max earned it as a permanent result of chemotherapy. Emily is looking at me, smiling, as Max and Hy are standing, shaking hands good-bye and suddenly Max has taken my hand to shake it as well. "They are not afraid of me," has been the overarching theme of this entire visit and his grasping my hand with his usual vigor has proven it even more. We are watching them from our open front door as they walk down our drive and across the block towards their home. We look at each other, smile, and close the door. |