“I never knew dying could be this easy”.
"I never knew dying could be this easy". - Larry M, US Army
I get asked how I got into teaching yoga to Veterans; it began 2019 following the passing of my uncle.
That late August we got the news that he had terminal cancer and very little time left. Larry was an avid outdoorsman and loved his off-grid lifestyle, but following his diagnosis, his family turned to a local Veterans' shelter so he could receive hospice care the last week of his life.
The Bridge House is a homeless shelter that provides information and referral, emergency shelter, food, job training, transitional living support, and aftercare in the Plymouth, NH area. Due to the VA’s commitment to end veteran homelessness, Bridge House is able to offer specialized services for this population. They vow to accept all veterans who contact the shelter - no vet is ever turned away.
Larry had made lots of friends there. He was never a resident, but would visit for a hot shower and a meal with fellow Veterans every once in a while. Larry only served two years following high school in the late '70s, but having been in the US Army was always a point of pride for him.
The care that the Bridge House’s staff, volunteers and his Veteran friends provided Larry in his last few days was unmatched.
When my cousins couldn’t be there, a volunteer was always at his bedside both day and night.
When we brought my grandmother up to see him (his dying wish), the staff prepared a massive tray of homemade mac + cheese for us, so we wouldn’t have to worry about food and make the most of our little time left with Larry.
They updated us regularly, reassuring us what good care he was through the very end.
And most importantly, even though Larry tended to prefer time in solitude in the woods of New Hampshire, they made sure that in his last days he was surrounded by family and friends, able to pass with dignity knowing how much he was loved.
During his stay and after he passed, the director made sure she pointed out the fact that Larry would said over and over that “This is the best week of my life … I didn’t know dying could be this easy”.
That’s just how Larry was. Ever appreciative of the little things. But really it was the shelter and community of Veterans that helped make his passing so easy.
Staff and volunteers at the Bridge House honoring and saying a final goodbye to Larry.
They’re probably aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for what they did for my uncle, but I knew I wanted to give back.
I’d already studied in trauma-informed and brain-sensitive yoga and thought I could bring the practice I loved into the lives of Veterans.
That fall I started studying with Warriors At Ease to bring that vision to life.
It’s been a long road (you know with the pandemic and all) to put all the pieces together and start working with this wonderful community, but I am so honored to be able to do so.
As I look towards launching my first Warriors At Ease series next month, I’m thinking a lot about my uncle and hoping to channel as much luck as “Lucky Larry” had.
Forever in gratitude and service,
Lauren
