My Bessie....

I have often talked about Mr and Mrs Bessie on my blog, today I want to talk about them a bit more, so this isn't a WOYWW post but a WIMHW - Whats in My Heart Wednesday.

On Monday afternoon Mr Bessie lost his very long and very courageous fight with the evil cancer. I was privileged enough to be there with them to share his last few days and last few moments. We will never know but it was almost like he had planned it all so he knew she would not be there alone when he passed away. I had gone down for our usual Ally Pally trip, and after we returned he went downhill very quickly. He didn't need to ask he would have just known I would never in a zillion years leave her until their family got there and he also knew I couldnt bear to say goodbye to him on Sunday and leave never to see him again. Then most importantly he waited until all his children were around him. Ever the considerate man.

Let me tell you about John. There will be no false platitudes, as hard as I rack my brain, I can find no faults. John was simply the nicest person anyone could know. From the moment I met him, when he came to the door in his red fleece and gardening moccasins I loved the man. When Matt first met him, he said 'He is just a thoroughly nice man' and that sums him up.Edward and Georgina just adore their 'JohnJohn' Everyone I know who knows John loves him. I have only known them for 5 years, since just after he was diagnosed. Sparky and I met on a forum and simply clicked, from that day we have been 'bessies' like it was meant to be. Not long after that I had two Bessie's - how lucky am i?

But let me tell you a story.. it has always amused me. When Sparky joined the DC forum, John quite rightly warned her about chatting on the cyberwaves (you know the kind of pep talk I have given my children about the dangers of the cyberworld) and when we arranged to first meet at Ally Pally, again he warned her to be careful - heaven knows there are axe murders out there, but she felt quite safe under the palm tree in a very public place, cos she could make a quick getaway if any of the group she was meeting decided to kidnap her. - All sensible precautions so far eh??

So.... tell me, why a few months later whilst they were up in his beloved Scotland, did he take her to meet another lady she had meet via the forum, who lives in a very remote farmhouse miles from anywhere, drop her off at the door and then just drive off???? I would like to point out that the lady in question and her husband are not axe murders and are lovely people - but where was his logic in this case?? John, you never ceased to amaze me!
Anyway, once he realised that I was probably trustworthy, I was welcomed into his life with open arms - this brings me to the hugs - John liked a hug, and how it started I just cant remember but there was soon a queue of ladies waiting for a cyber hug - so much so I had to form a hug list on the DC forum,(I made sure I was always number one!!) some ladies were fortunate enough to get a real one from him but they had to toe the line or else I would knock them off - He was definitely the king of hugs . He once said to me, 'I never thought I would end up a stud' - I had to point out to him that was going a bit far LOL
As a family we have so many memories to cherish, especially last Christmas when John was not well enough to travel to spend the time with his family, hopefully we were the next best thing. It was a wonderful time, he said he never imagined in a million being in bed with us all opening his stocking. Mind you I don't know how he survived the look he got from Sparky when he turned round and said 'That was the best meal I have had in years' - as soon as he said it he realised the error of his ways and had that scared look of a rabbit caught in a cars headlights.

Gawd I cannot tell you how much I loved the man, but he knew. His daughter in law once told me that she 'couldnt have loved him more even if they shared the same DNA' and that is exactly how I feel, she summed it up perfectly.

How lucky am I to have been a small part of his life.

I will leave you with a poem, written by one of his many fans on the DC forum

"Armed Salute" by the Huggers.

A tribute to a much-loved King of Hugs, and to the courageous fight of a gentle man against illness.

Let Chat be hushed

A while today...

The King of Hugs

Has slipped away.

For those who loved him,

And held him dear,

May comfort come

From far and near.

A tribute to courage,

A thought for the way

He faced up to illness,

Yet little did say.

How to express

The sadness we feel?

Our pain isn't virtual

For a cyber-friend real.

In memory of John

At Nicks' request...

May hugs continue!

Our King is at rest.

by KK

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How lucky am I to have loved someone it was so hard to say goodbye to

RIP Treacle. xxxx