I called Glenn and told him Kobe was gone, and how guilty I felt for not being there with him when he passed. Glenn said that his mother had actually collected stories of people and animals and how they would rally just before they died so they could spend meaningful time with the people they loved, and then failed quickly and wanted to be alone when they passed.  He said it was an incredible tribute to Kobe and his great spirit, his compassion and his kindness that he let me know it was time to go, and then rallied in spite of it so we could have that wonderful last few hours together.  He said Kobe did not want my last memory of him to be of his death.

I spent part of my hike the other day spreading his ashes in Cherry Creek and other places we had such wonderful times together in Colorado. And my friends that I am staying with now have his mother, so that has been lovely, but melancholy  at the same time. They both have the same habits and spirit.