Alex was a brilliant rocket scientist with The Aerospace Corporation for 38 years. On Saturday, during a game of tennis, he died suddenly of a massive heart attack. His wife Betty was librarian at Star View Elementary school where Eva teaches. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Allison.This afternoon, Eva and I attended the “celebration of life” event at Los Caballaros Racquet and Sport Club in Fountain Valley. Eva has worked with Betty for the past 15 years and their daughter, Allison, was a student teacher in Eva’s class one year. We had also attended a couple of parties at their home in Huntington Harbour.
It is always sobering when an unexpected death occurs. But it was good to hear remembrances of Alex from his daughters – “good good Dad” was a phrase they often used in reference to him. There were many other remembrances offered, and they were touching too, but after awhile it’s enough public comment and time to let the guests just mingle and talk to whom they will.
When someone you know, who is close to the your age, whose career and family has similarities to your own, dies suddenly, questions arise - "When will I die?", "What will my daughters say at my funeral?", "Will the funeral go on and on?".
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot."
So tomorrow I'm going to Tree of Life nursery in San Jan Capistrano to attend a talk on landscaping with California native plants. It's time to change my front yard to be more drought tolerant.
I know you won't go so far as to xeriscape your front yard but the rocks are mighty drought tolerant. And, you are a good good dad too so I'll think about what I'd say but not belabor the point and let people get on with the mingling.
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