The Last Year of His Life
My brother and I cleaned out Dad’s room
at the assisted living facility.
Six bags full of
receipts: utility bills, credit cards
magazines: Physics, Science
paper: lists of chores to do around the house
letters from my grandmother
I used a few bags to cover framed photos
to take home:
Mt. Denali that we saw that night
in Alaska
the pileated woodpecker picture
I gave him for Christmas
In a black lawn bag, we stuffed:
the suit he wore to Mom’s memorial
sweat pants we thought he would use
in rehab
his dress khakis, shirts and ties
We took the clothes to Good Will for others to use.
The Maynard
