Turning two lives into one, or, things that worry me about Bess, after I’m gone

There have been a few of Jake's blogs posts on HN recently, and I find them a hard but somehow rewarding read. He conveys a level of lucid, unsentimental insight into his situation that I find remarkable: not only because I'm sure that in his position I would be petrified into silence. I hope that the remainder of his life is full of love.

Jake's posts remind me of those of Derek Miller [1], who died back in 2011. His final, posthumous post was particularly moving to me.

[1] https://www.penmachine.com/

This is beautiful and so true.

"Love isn’t just blind to ugliness, but to decay. Look at two 80-year-olds gazing at each other like teenagers and you’ll know what I mean. When I lose Jake, I’ll lose someone ever seeing me throughout all my ages again."

Have a safe trip to the other side, wonderful stranger! I hope to meet you there some day

I have no idea if Jake reads these or not, but having read both his and his wife's blogs over the last month or two, right after our youngest was (finally) given the all clear for Leukemia:

It is astoundingly hard to read these, having been through something similar (child, not partner). I tried to keep a blog of our experiences, and... it was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I quietly shuttered it about halfway through, when we had some setbacks and I couldn't bear to write anything.

I'm not sure if I should thank you for posting or not; these posts are both intensely personal and very public I think. I can say that I truly hope they help you and you wife as you work through this.

There is a sentiment shared at a retirement or funeral in the Navy (my chosen career):

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

We have the watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhwZwHaE5JE

I hope there is someone to take whatever it is you consider your "watch" in life.

Thank you. You have mattered to me, a total stranger. I think that is all we can hope for in life.