Great Gig in the Sky

Dear Mr. Waters, - Don asked me to let you know that he is in hospital now, and has been diagnosed with a cancer in his sinus. - He also asked me to tell everyone that he is not answering any letters. - Best to you, - Don's assistant, Kendel - And then I wrote to Kendel. - Dear Kendel, - The other night in Zagreb, at the end of the show, when I sometimes wax political, - I suddenly found myself telling 10,000 Croats Don's One Road story. - I had no idea if they would get it. When I got to the line, There is only one road in Yugoslavia, - they burst into loud and genuine laughter. - I told them the rest of the story in brief, including Kirby's cancer, and reached the end. - There is only one road. - I stayed in touch with Kendel. - She lived a couple of hundred yards down the road from the farm house. - Somehow Don's plan for the Eagle Farm to stay in the family never worked out and it went on the market. - Eventually, an estate sale was organised and Kendel kept me informed. It's a long drive. - It was still light when we got there, so we went to the farm - and sat on the porch and chatted to a few people who were gathered there. - Some ladies intent on protecting Don's legacy, determined to at least buy his red chair, and some other important stuff. - I told Kendel that if it was okay with the estate, I would like a couple of bale hooks and some baling twine from the barn. - She organised that. Thank you, sweet Kendel. - Tears burn my eyes, my new old friend. - My bale hooks and twine arrived a few months later, with a colour photograph of Don with Kendel. - They live hooks, twine, and pic slap-bang in the middle of some beautiful shelves we have on the landing. - In pride of place alongside some mummified dragonflies, and old robin's eggs. - Treasured. - Forever catching the rays of the dying sun. - At that gin rumminy time of the afternoon that I love. - Well. RIP Donald Hall. - And now I've arrived at the bit I was looking for. - The Crossroads