James

James was another elderly customer of mine.

He died in April 2021.

James was a relatively new customer to me. I started seeing him September of 2019.

He had a bunch of things he wanted doing. iPad updates had eluded him and he had an SD card of movies he couldn't make play on his TV despite having been sold a special gadget to do it.

James was looking after his wife Freda who was suffering from Alzheimer's.

At the end of the work I told James the total cost for the visit. I am always very fair with my charges and especially so for the old folks...but I am definitely not "cheap".

He was happy to pay and was happy with the job but wondered why I was "dearer than the previosu fellow".

I asked James what had happened to the previous fellow?

James said "I rang him and he never showed up. Then he stopped answering my calls".

"That's why I am dearer. I return phone calls, I actually show up as promised and I do a good job. There's a good chance this other guy went out of business BECAUSE he was so cheap".

James didn't say much other than to immediately book me in for our next appointment and offer me tea and biscuits.

James seemed to be a little frustrated with himself and having been bamboozled by these couple of things he couldn't do.

He went to some length to point out to me that he used to be very teechnical and capable.

He told me he worked on early radar systems at the end of WWII. Like, but probably not exactly, the one pictured below.

He showed me photo albums of him with the various engineering projects and hobbies he'd worked on.

He also showed me a garage full of lovely paintings and drawings he'd done.

He was clearly very smart and very talented. An annoying combination for those of us who are neither.

Even from the first visit I noticed that's James's voice was quite raspy and that he had some difficulty speaking.

I put it down to aging and watched as he doted on his wife.

They worked together to make the tea but I could see what was really going on.

After a couple of visits it became clear that it was more about the tea and chat than it was about any IT issues.

He'd always book me right away for the next visit despite there not being any residual issues or indeed anything likely on the horizon.

Ever since the first visit he'd pay me more than I asked for at the end of the job.

After a few visits Freda was noticeably absent and he told me she'd gone into care.

He visited her often and his very precisely constructed diary had to work around this. Including my visits :-)

Visiting Freda during the Covid 19 pandemic was very hard on both of them, not to mention risky.

James was getting help himself. Help around the home etc.

Their immaculate home remained immaculate despite the clear emotional strain life was having on them.

Then one visit James told me Freda had passed away.

He was doing pretty well. Better than I could imagine doing, but was clearly very upset.

Not much computing stuff got done that day but I did hear some more stories and saw some more photos from the albums.

At the next visit James was doing better. As best as can be expected.

His voice sounded worse and I asked if he was getting it looked at.

He said he was just as he started a bit of a coughing fit that resulted in a bloodied handkerchief.

He said the throat condition wasn't good (obviously).

My heart sank.

James had been tidying up and knew of my interest in railroads and model railroads.

He gave me a book of his that was about steam trains in the UK.

"What use is it to me?" he said.

I thanked him but was a little worried that someone in his family may not be happy about "some computer guy" being given "stuff".

James and Freda had been married, happy and in love forever.

I saw and hoped my marriage would be like theirs. I couldn't imagine going on without my wife.

You hear how these things go...old folks dying very close to each. The second one usually from apparent heartbrake. Well, of course.

I can imagine how it feels. The deaths of loved ones has made my heart feel like it may explode. Let alone the death of a life partner.

James was a lot older than me and he was properly unwell on top of that.

He didn't want to book in our my next visit the way he usually did.

It was obvious what was going on. He said he'd be going to hospital for his throat and wasn't sure when, or how long, that would take.

He did want me to ring him though...in a couple of months...to book in a visit.

We had tea and biscuits. Well, I did. James insisted despite not being able to himself.

I got the distinct impression, from our conversation, that James thought the hospitalisation for his throat would actually end the way he really wanted.

It was really none of my business or concern, but I was very worried about James's prospects.

I said goodbye and drove off.

When it came to ring James back a sadly familiar thought crossed my mind...

I Googled James's obituary, again hoping to be unsuccessful, but wasn't.

Goodbye James. Thanks for the book.