Morale Road Trip

George Grand

I drove an out and back today to Easton, Maryland in order to visit an 87 year old Navy chief that I met when he lived up here in Jersey. Chief James Freeburger, USN Ret. is not doing too good, but I got a visit in today. His daughter asked me to shave him. No biggie I figured until I saw that he had about a week and a half going, and she hands be about a month old BIC Death Razor that she probably used on her legs. I told her to get a facecloth so I could make it as hot as possible under the faucet and then put it on his face for awhile. Do that a couple times and get his stuff all soft. Not a chance. The water in a rehab facility? I'm sure it's insurance that has the peak temps of that water at about 95-100 degrees max. I don't think he'll ever forgive me for that shave.

I met him through a used piece of stereo stuff that I bought. It came with the owners manual and it had his name and number in it. I called him to ask him why he sold it, and that was that. That was around 1989 and he lived about 10 miles down the road. He'd stop in at my office every Tuesday when he came to the airbase to go shopping. If I wasn't flying we'd **** for awhile or get coffee and **** for awhile. He also came to the house, frequently on Saturdays, and would trip over the same step every time he came over. He always brought the ladies some kind of chocolates or candies when he came, and that made them feel special. I had the presence of mind (thank you lord) to remember that today and thanked him for those little efforts. His wife Evelyn died about 17 months ago, so he put this place up for sale and headed down to Maryland with his daughter. He took care of Evelyn up here until she had to be institutionalized, and she didn't last very long. Sad to see a brilliant mind like hers deteriorate so quickly. She was a New York Times crossword in about 20 minutes type person. Thankfully she went quick. You haven't lived until an 80+ lady looks you in the eye and says, "I want to do it with you ...... but I don't like anything strange." My life is complete.

I'm hoping I can get down there to see him again in the next couple weeks, but I don't know.

ESavinon

Why the doubt on visiting him again?
I understand it may be hard on you to see your friend in such a frail state but you may be one of the last people left whose company he may cherish.

SCompRacer

The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

God bless the Chief and you George, for shining the light in a darkening place.

George Grand

I don't know if he's still going to be there Ed.

ESavinon

Let's hope that he will be.

This reminds me of my great grandmother who raised me.
She asked me to visit her because she felt her time on this earth was limited.
I laughed it off since she was healthy as a horse but nevertheless i did take a one month vacation to spend time with her. Seven months later, I lost my great grandfather to a stroke. He was her whole life. Almost six months to the day my great grandfather passed, she passed away.


I will always cherish that time i spent with them. Those memories help me cope with that great loss i sustained.

schwarcw

George, Ed these are great stories. Thanks for sharing. George, I wish your friend well!

mrbigbluelight

Well written and well done, Mr. GG. That's how life should be.

Thanks for sharing that.

hearingimpared

Great and touching story George.

disneyjoe7

Touching story and thanks for sharing.

dkg999

You're a true friend! Very touching story, with a message for us all.

Fireman32

Nice story George.

BAD ASP

George, thanks for sharing that with us. I have always enjoyed spending time with the folks that have earned their wisdom and are willing to share it with us. I hope that all of us have similar stories, I know I do.
I do think that it is extremely important that we accept the responsibility to know our culture and our history and pass it down to the next generations, to the very best of our ability. It's that passing of our history from generation to generation which foments and preserves our culture. For example, Native Americans have always shared their culture from generation to generation,preserving their proud heritage.
Good on you George and keep your friend close, he is one of your most precious possessions. And to the rest of us take whatever opportunities we have to emulate what George has done. It will make us all a little stronger, a little prouder and a lot more American.

George Grand

Jimmy Freeburger passed away at 7:50 this evening.

Dennis Gardner

I'm sorry for your loss, George. Prayers go out to his family and those that have served us so selflessly.

SCompRacer

George, my heartfelt condolences to you and the surviving family of Chief James Freeburger, USN, Retired.

shack

I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend.

hearingimpared

My condolences on the loss of your friend George. We're praying for you and his family.

schwarcw

George I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Jimmy. I will keep him, his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers. RIP.

cfrizz

my condolences George.

snow

Sorry to hear about your friend George. 87 years is a good run though and he knew that he had at least one friend when he went, you. There is nothing worse than dying alone and unloved and unremembered. Due to your caring he didnt suffer this fate. Good on you.



REGARDS SNOW

janmike

My condolences George. Very touching.

disneyjoe7

Sorry for your lost, yes very touching. Also very sweet you touch his heart also, letting him know he wasn't alone in the end.


Steve

ESavinon

I feel your loss george. Thoughs and prayers sent to you and his family.

reeltrouble1

Sorry to hear of Jimmy's passing. I suspect he is now with Evelyn doing what they do.

Take care my friend.

RT1

DarqueKnight

My condolences George.

ohskigod

My condolences to you, as well as Jim's family and friends.

mhardy6647

I'm sorry, George. You did a very nice thing for him last month (not that you need any validation, but words tend to fail me at times like this).

Fireman32

Im sorry to hear about the loss of you friend George. My condolences to you and his family.