In July of last year my father in law, Col. Dean H. Wilson (ret.) was visiting my wife, kids, and I at our home in San Diego. We had a wonderful time, much of it spent unpacking our new home, and preparing for the arrival of our second child Charlotte Hope. Our visit was much like others, a chance to be together, to enjoy. During his and Nancy's travels to Phoenix to visit their son Mike it became apparent that Dean was fighting something.
Dean and Nancy shortly returned to Colorado to find their home, and community in danger from one of the worst forest fires to hit Colorado. Once contained, and back in their home, Dean and Nancy spoke with doctors, and Dean was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer.
Erin, the girls and I traveled to Colorado at the end of 2012 to celebrate the holidays, and enjoy family. Dean was thin, but looked good, and celebrated the season with food, drink, family, and friends. He, and Nancy met their newest grand daughter, filled the house with the smells, sounds, and visions of the season, and we were all together. Though Dean was sick, and battling his disease he never let us know how uncomfortable he was. Always the first to offer a drink, a laugh, tell a story, or just sit in his chair in front of a massive window with mount Blodgett, and the US Air Force Academy framing him.
It is now mid way through March, and Dean has been in Denver at the University Hospital Oncology floor enduring surgery after surgery, the uncomfortable surroundings, and hoping that something, a doctor, his faith, or a miracle will give him a little more time. Erin, the girls and I arrived two days before he was scheduled to head back to Colorado Springs. He, and Nancy decided that their time at the hospital was over, and a comfy bed, a view of the snow covered academy, and family was the treatment he needed.
Nancy had been back and forth between Colorado Springs, and Denver for more than a month with no idea when they would return. When we arrived home, the house was filled with food; lunch meats, cookies, breads, soups, salads, wine, beer, and other wonderful treats. Food arrived as if out of thin air. Friends had rallied, filled the house with meals from breakfast to dinner, egg soufflé, bagels, lunch meats, soups, beer, wine, and desserts. An unbelievable showing of love, and support. A gesture as simple, as food.
In the two days we have been in Colorado Springs the house has been filled with family and friends, a 3 star general, a lovable chocolate lab, and enough cheer and revelry to raise a ship. A toast, a cheer if you will to honor a great man, and a great life.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, food is more than sustenance. Food is social, it is comfort, it is a gesture of love, an offering if you will. Food is intimate, it is friends, and it is family. Nothing brings people together better then food. Food, and drink fill a house with smells, a warmth, a flavor of life that we all find comfort in.
The food, friends, and family that filled this house in honor of Dean have proven out, they arrive daily with plates, trays, tins, bottles, and kits for making drink that all is wonderful. Each one taking their time to visit Dean in his room as he rests, and continues his battle.
Dean Holbrook Wilson was born and raised in Great Falls Montana. Served his country, educated himself to the highest level, and eventually found his greatest calling as an educator, an administrator, and a mentor of young men and women at the Air Force Academy. His passion for life, and knowledge has taken him across the globe, but nothing quite felt like home in Colorado Springs. The Springs is where he had his greatest accomplishments professionally, as a husband, father, and grandfather.
With the mountains and valley that spreads out from his bedroom window blanketed with snow, and the house filled with the sounds, and smells of family, both immediate, and extended, Dean continues his battle. He battles for one more conversation in the quiet moments at dawn with Nancy, for one more early morning smile from his grandchildren, one more moment to lay eyes on his children, to tell them all he loves them, and to let them know it will be ok.
A man of tremendous faith I know that in the end he will be awarded peace, and comfort. He will know that his family will be taken care of, that he lived a life of honor for country, and family. In that moment I hope he has clarity, can turn to the window, look out over the place he has called home for so many years, the sun shining off the face of Mount Blodgett, hold the hands of the people he loves, and close his eyes for one final rest, a rest so well deserved.
