TOMMY

Well I see it's been over a year since I posted anything. Damn, have I been that lazy? I'm going to make an effort to post something every day if I possibly can. I've been writing some short fiction and may start sharing those. Now I'm not a great Writer or even close, but I enjoy doing it.
My Friend Tommy came by Our house last May. I hadn't seen Him in about Two years. He had been living in K.C. where His Son and He were buying a house. We made plans to get together with some old Friends on Aug. 13th and make a weekend of it, which We did. He had to get back to Kansas City the following Wed. He came by the house on His way out of Town and We agreed to keep in touch with Each Other and the old Gang.
Tommy was back down in Dec. He wanted to spend christmas with His Cousin John Who was recovering from a bout with cancer. We got together a couple of times over the Holidays and had a good time, drinking beer and bullshitin". We talked like Old Farts do about Old Friends and past Friends and Times gone by. He had to get back home right after the first of the year, I think it was the third of Jan. He left Town. I talked to Him on the phone once after that.
I got a call on or around the 17th of Jan. telling Me that Tommy had slipped on the ice and broke His leg. It was bad enough that He had to be taken to surgery. The next day I called His ex Wife and asked how He was doing, She told Me that He was in really bad shape. It seems that the surgery went fine, the problem was, He didn't wake up. He developed a brain infection and pneumonia and wasn't responding to anything. He died Jan. 28. He went into the hospital with a goddamned broken leg and came out toes up. I realize I don't have all the details so I can't judge the hospital staff, but shit, it makes Me wonder.
Anyway Tommy was a good Guy and a very good Friend and I'll miss Him. I'll tell You how good a Friend He was. Tommy was very right wing politically and and avid fox "news" fan. I knew He held conservative views but I didn't realize just how far right He was until one night last Dec. We were talking about something completely unrelated to politics When the 10:00 O'clock news came on. I wasn't paying much attention to the tv but I did hear something about illegal immigrants and that started Him off. I don't remember what all He said, but He was talking about fox "news" being the only "news" source that told the truth about what was going on and how Sean Hannity had the best program going. I tried to change the subject but He just kept going on with this right wing bullshit. I finally lost it and went into a real fucking rant about how I spit on fox, I spit on Sean Hannity, I spit on Your flag, I spit on the republicans and the fucking tea party. well, You get the idea. Tommy took a sip of bourbon, smiled and said, " well, I guess now We know where We stand, so what say We call a truce." We never mentioned that episode again. It made Me think though. At the time all the political crap seemed important to Me. Now, not so much. At the funeral I was thinking that all the Left Wing, Right Wing bullshit is just that, bullshit. When it comes to Individuals, Friendship should win out over all. If I had it to do over again I would have handled it differently and not flew off the handle. We could have talked about Our differences and maybe Both of Us would have gotten some insight. We were on different sides of the fence for sure, but He was, Above all else My Friend. RIP TOMMY.