George’s Last Hours

Very early on the morning of December 14, 2013, in Houston, Texas, I sat in my Christmas pajamas on the couch in George’s hospital room and wrote a blog post about the story behind Cora’s Restaurant, George’s painting of 1975, combined with a reflection on George’s good friend, Jimmy Domengeaux, a man I never met. Between 1968 and 1988, Domengeaux was the President of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, known as CODOFIL, and as such was a champion for the preservation of the French culture in Louisiana.   

Without question, this subject, particularly at this time, was an odd choice. Looking back, I think I needed to divert my mind from the scene a few hours before, when in a panic I phoned the doctor on call, who rushed from a holiday party to help.  Wearing a tuxedo, he attended to George, who was in terrible pain from a catheter-gone-wrong.

Look at me, I said. George’s eyes were huge.  Everything’s going to be alright. 

In hopes of calming him, and to help him focus, I asked George, Who am I?. And although he had not spoken in days, he replied, “You’re my Wendy.”  

They were his last words.  

As I wrote about Cora’s Restaurant and Domengeaux on my laptop, I focused on my journal, which was opened to my conversation with George, from months earlier, about the painting and his friend. I didn’t know that George’s heavy breathing was the sound of his lungs filling with fluid.  In his weakened state from the cancer, the pneumonia came on very fast.  They tried to save him, but he was gone within hours.

***

This wasn’t what I intended to share today.   But I changed my mind early this morning because of a dream. George, Douglas and I walked together within a painting, on a river made of rainbow colors.  Agnes Magnus, our cat, was also there.  As we reached the horizon, George continued into a bright sky.  His eyes were enormous, and as he floated on the colors, he was laughing.  Douglas, Agnes and I continued on the earthbound rainbow path.  And we, too, were full of joy.

May the holidays bring you and yours the blessings of the season, and may your gratitude be the portal to your happiness.

Enjoy life!

Wendy

*Read the blog post “Cora’s Restaurant and CODOFIL” here.   See the related exhibition, Rodrigue:  Before the Blue Dog, currently on view at the Cabildo Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans. Learn more.