Terry’s last few years of life were tumultuous: His illness, personal relationships, his continuing habit of becoming geographically restless and moving every couple of years (Long Beach, CA; Las Vegas; Durango, CO; Vegas again; Dallas).
He spent his last Thanksgiving at my house, with my family.
Six months later he was hospitalized, for neither the first nor the last time. When he heard I was going to visit Terry in the hospital, my 4 1/2-year old son asked me to bring Terry a letter. Matthew dictated, and I typed it up.
May 1, 1994
Dear Terry,
I hope you feel better soon.
We miss you.
I hope we can send you a copy of THE TREEHOUSE. That’s a computer program where you can do music and animals and all this stuff.
I wish I could have visited you yesterday. I can’t wait until we see each other again. Come over here soon.
There was a Moon Bounce at Kiely’s school’s carnival, and there was this rope thing and you climb up on it and then there’s an enormous blue slide and then you go down it. And it’s so much fun going down it, it’s very fun.
I’m going to a carnival this Sunday. I hope there will be a Moon Bounce, and I hope there will be the rope thing where you slide down and it’s so much fun.
Do you have a pet animal?
I hope you get this letter today.
I hope I can invite for Thanksgiving again.
I love Terry. I hope I can give you a flower.
I hope I will give you a movie that no one likes in this family.
I hope we can go to a Thai restaurant soon, with Terry and Daddy and Matthew.
When Daddy visits you today, he will bring a book just for Terry. There’s a rooster on the front.
Matthew wrote this letter.
Love,
Matthew
Illustration ©2008 by Bobby Ocean
