Last Kiss

Leslie and me on a rainy magical day in Vietnam

Eight years ago today, my wife, Leslie passed away in Baylor Hospital. Today, Jean and I went to the King Middle School track for a weekend walk surrounded by the beauty of the Berkeley Hills and a clear blue sky. I put on my headphones and started a random playlist. The first song was Last Kiss! I flashed back to that terrible last night with Leslie deeply sedated, never to awaken and I was there, whispering into her ear – love, David, Nora, me, all the people who loved her truly, singing the Song of Ruth to Leslie, our long life together, singing more than 50 years of our love, since we were 16 falling in love outside the cafeteria at Thomas Jefferson High School. I kissed her our last kiss as her

Leslie and David a few days before she died

breathing slowed and stopped…

Last Kiss, Pearl Jam rendition