2021 Life Logs, Day 161: Loss of a Good Friend
Date: Thursday, June 10, 20
Weather: Sunny and Cooler; High 73, Low 53 Degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
In these logs, I write a lot about the people in my Newcomers Dining-in Group. There are four couples plus myself and we have all become good friends—Bruce and Jane Woodin, Terry and Olivia White, Peter and Karen Baranowski, and Bill and Midge Frieswyk. But last night I learned that Bill Frieswyk passed away late yesterday afternoon. Bill has been fighting one health issue after another for quite a while now, but when our group met a little over two weeks ago, we made plans to meet again in July and assumed Bill would be with us. We will all miss Bill’s kind and gentle presence. He fought long and hard but that dreaded ‘c’ word disease won the battle. I saw Midge this evening and she seems to be doing as well as can be expected. She is surrounding herself with friends and family which would be my recommendation for the surest path to a new normal for her.
The Newcomers installation of new officers event took place late this afternoon in the Poppy Tent at the oceanfront Popponesset Inn. This is in the adjoining town of Mashpee. I have only been there once before when we were searching for a location for Heather and Jed’s wedding. It is a gorgeous location and I can’t remember why we didn’t choose it for the wedding. But today when I went to bar to get a glass of wine and it cost $12 it made me think that maybe the reason for that decision was that it was just too pricy for the wedding. But for an hour and a half Newcomers gathering, the first in-person major gathering since February of 2020, it was the perfect choice.
The only other activity of the day was getting more things out of the basement to prepare for the insulation team that arrives next Wednesday. Peter and Karen Baranowski came over this morning and took some things that they put on their street corner. They were gone before Peter could get back to his house to get the “Free” sign. I will continue the work tomorrow and hope I finish up. If not, I still have next Tuesday. Tomorrow my next door neighbor, landlord, and friend comes home for the first time since last August. It will be wonderful to Shirley and her sister Doris next door for the summer. Saturday I meet with the woman who has been reading my book chapters to get pointers on how to get the book published. Sunday I travel to the New Hampshire border to have lunch with my good friends Detta, Leslie, and Cheryl to celebrate Detta’s birthday. And on Monday I go to Newport on a Newcomers field trip. So getting the basement ready either happens tomorrow or Tuesday.
