Before death he was smiling he gave his hand to Jewel and
jewel hold his hand very tightly in front of his bed his daughter in law was
standing he looked at him and she hold his second hand and he was smiling
continuously as he was enjoying his last moment, Buchwald close his eyes, take
a deep breath and then there was a long silence in the room, his son, his wife
everyone was silent.
Art Buchwald, the most famous article writer, his article
published daily in 600 different world’s newspaper at the same time. His story
is very interesting in fact I found it very interesting.
He was born on 1925 in New York. He tries to take admission
in the school but all in vein he didn’t study there and left the school. His
father Joseph Buchwald was a curtain manufacturer. He joined Navy, he did
3years job in navy but after becoming Sergeant he left Navy and come back to
home. He takes admission in university of South California, he study there at
least 3years but it was useless because he didn’t get anything from there.
In 1948 he collect 350$ and go to Paris and in Paris he join
“Variety magazine” in magazine he start writing about Paris charming life
style, the readers like his article and Art Buchwald become a writer.
In 1952 New York herald Tribune “Syndicate” his column. Art
Buchwald’s column at the same was publishing in top 30 different newspaper of
the United States. In 1962 he comes back to United States and in 1970 his
articles was publishing in 600 different newspapers of the world.
He hired a team of 36 intelligent persons who wrote his
column on daily basis. He also hired a psychiatrist for his article who is
responsible for analyzing the psychic side of the column. His article was full
of humor. He always try to present a positive side of a thing through humor.
He was also involve in many social activities in the world
and he called it a “pray” once he said “Human is a combination of three things
Body, Soul, and brain. For maintaining a healthy body we do exercise, for
sharpen our brain we study but every time we forget our soul and we never do
anything to sharpen it whereas there is a strong connection between our soul,
body and brain. Body and brain is directly connected with the soul . I am
liberal sort of person but I considered exercise as a pray for body, study as a
pray for brain and social work as a pray for soul”.
Art Buchwald’s death was more interesting than all things in
his life. In February 2006 he suffers from renal failure and for that he
regularly go twice in a week for dialysis. He was bored of dialysis and
therefore he decides to die. United states have two types of medical homes
hospital and Hospice. He chooses Hospice as a last place for death. Hospice
care is a type and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliative care of a
terminally ill or seriously ill patient’s pain and symptoms, and attending to
their emotional and spiritual needs.
He was very happy in the hospice care and stopped his
dialysis. Through this step he become very famous throughout the world and
every newspaper in the world was giving full attention to him. Buchwald invited
a radio talk show presenter for interview and during the interview he described
his decision as his “Last Hurrah” stating that “if you have to go, the way you
go is a big deal”. He said that he was very happy with his choice was eating at
MacDonald’s on a regular basis.
The medical staff of the Hospice was expecting that he was a
guest of some days but no one knows the real truth and with the special
blessing of God his kidney starts working and he become normal and after three
weeks he left Hospice and continue his article writing.
Art Buchwald wrote a special article for his readers and he
instruct his staff that this article will be publish after his death and the
article’s name was “GOOD BYE MY FRIENDS”. This article was published in late
January 2007 after his death.
In his 60years career of journalism he never wrote any
serious article he always writes humorous articles and he continued it till the
end. Everyone should read his last article. He wrote in his last article
“friends!! During the last breaths of the life I remember a song “What’s it all
about, Alfie?”. I don’t know how well I’ve done while I was there but I’d like
to think some of my printed works will preserve---at least for three years. I
know it’s very egocentric to believe that someone is put on Earth for a lesson.
In my case I like to think I was. And after this column appears in the paper
following my passing, I would like to think it will either wind up on a cereal
box top or be repeated every THANKS GIVING DAY.”
So, “What’s it all about, Alfie?” is my way of saying Good
bye.
It was just a normal and routine column from Art Buchwald
but if you just go into the deeper you will get to know that it’s a
unforgettable column from him. If you took a glance on the past of the writer
you will get to know that this article is written by one who is one step away
from death and can listen the feet sound of Death but regardless of all that he
wrote it like the way he always wrote full of humour which shows commitment
towards his work.
Art Buchwald always wrote ironic articles and he continued
it till the end. He never become hopeless he never become sad he always smile
and he always full of hopes and that is what his last article tells us.
I don’t have words to cover his personality in fact it will
take three to four pages to cover his life story but what I really love about
him that he always be patience and available for others. He always helps other
with open heart. He gave us the message of hope, he gave us the message of
patience, he gave us the message of sincerity towards profession, he gave us
the message of availability to others.
WELL DONE ART BUCHWALD!!!! YOU ARE THE
BEST.