I got a message from an old friend of mine, Nalonna -- we used to be real close throughout our years in school together; hell, we even dated the same douchbag at the same time with another one of our good friends and ended up "outing" him and all 3 of us approaching him at the same time at one of our softball games back in high school (damn I miss our ole' softball days -- "NOBODY'S FROM NOWHERE" BABY!!!) We may not have won a whole bunch of games, but we had a helluva good time.
But back to the purpose of my post: I also grew up, since Kindergarden, with a boy named Jason Torrey... we were never really close; actually, if I remember correctly, I think I had a slight crush on him at one point or another during middle school (keep in mind, I was only in middle school for 2 years -- 6th and 7th, then I went on to high school in 8th grade, Sumner). Anyhoo, he was kind of a rebel back in the day... mostly lost touch with him after middle school, although, I remember him being one of Eric's best friend... and Eric was one of Ashley's boyfriends in middle school... they dated for quite some time if memory serves me correctly.
Anyhoo -- I was posting on FB about how a dear older friend of mine from my old highrise (Rosedale Towers) in literally on death's door with prostate cancer... he's an older man, obviously, cuz those towers are for disabled people and 95% of the people that live in those highrises are 50+ and if I remember correctly, Mr. Chris (my friend dying from prostate cancer) is only in his 50s. He was such an awesome, sweet man. Me and him used to sit out on the front porch during the spring, summer and fall (basically any time it was above 55 degrees out) and watch the cute female nurses and doctor-to-be's walk by from school at KU to their parked cars which were parked up the street back behind the highrise -- Rosedale Towers is directly across the street from KU Medical Center off of Rainbow and 39th Street. Not only did we sit out, checkin' out the hotties from the med school, he would spend his OWN MONEY each spring to go out and buy seeds to plant and flowers and plants to spruce up the grounds at the towers; and even though all of the grounds keeping and such was maintanence's job, he would do it, cuz he knew he'd do the job 100 times better than Housing's people. He made the grounds look gorgeous... you would look forward to sitting out and enjoying the fresh air and looking out at the plants and flowers he would take care of. I mean, think about it -- like I said, 95% or more of the people that lived at the tower (as it is the same at all of KCK's Housing Authority towers) were older, if not elderly people... and alot of them had no transportation and alot had no family that came to visit or help take care of them -- so AT LEAST half if not more of the people that live at Rosedale are basically homebound; either because they are too disabled to go anywhere or have no way of getting around, so they're essentially STUCK there at the highrise......... but because of Mr. Chris, if they could make their way downstairs to the front patio, they could look out at the grounds and enjoy the pretty flowers and plants n such. It would make people feel better. He's one of the sweetest, most selfless, FUNNY people I've ever known........ and he's about gone.
Mr. Chris, I know you don't have any more time left on this planet, but you will indeed be missed in this world... especially at Rosedale Towers -- it'll never be the same without you. I know that the disease that you suffer from is HORRIBLE AND MISERABLE and you are in extreme amounts of pain... but I hope that your suffering ends soon and that you pass on to the otherside and live an eternity of happiness and love.
You are loved and will be missed.
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