This experience has taught me much about dying and
about 1 through Jim, I have learned
that I don’t 2 to do very much for a
person 3 is dying except to be with him
or her by being myself. So often I have 4 a sense of helplessness, of not knowing what to say or how 5 to say, of not knowing what to ask or not to
ask, of feeling 6 to speak. Jim’s
oncoming death seems such a loss, and it’s very 7
for me to accept it. Gradually, however, I have learned not to be
so concerned 8 what to say or not to
say. In fact, in my last visit I said very little, but I feel that we made
significant contact with 9 other. I’ve
also learned to share with him the sadness I feel, but there is simply no
10 way to say good-bye to a
friend.