The Quiet Beatle Part 4

Cancer wasn't foreign to the Fab Four. Various family and friends had died from the disease. George, like the other three, was a heavy smoker. In 1997, he discovered a lump in his throat. The doctors told him the news. The cancer was stopped temporarily, but, in time it would spread to his lungs, and, finally, to his brain.... In the middle of the night on December 29, 1999, George and Olivia were awakened by strange sounds from downstairs. Investigating the noise, George came across an intruder with a knife. George quickly said, ''Hare Krishna'' to the man, hoping that it would pacify him. It didn't. The man attacked George and stabbed him deeply in the chest. While the two men struggled , Olivia grabbed a lamp and began hitting the intruder over the head. Finally, the man collapsed, but, George was seriously wounded. He was taken to the hospital with internal bleeding. He almost died.... After the attack, he never really recovered. The final two years of his life, the cancer took over his body. In the summer of 2001, George knew he was a dying man. And, because of his faith, he was comfortable in spirit knowing that he was finally going to see the God he had been searching for. The only drawback, he knew, was that he would be leaving his loved ones. Throughout the last month of his life, George said goodbye.... Paul visited him in the hospital those final weeks. They had been on good terms for many years. They held hands for the entire visit. Two old friends who had seen and done so much. Ringo also saw George. The three didn't have to tell each other they loved each other, it was there and it was real. One day in Heaven that reunion will come between the four of them..... The last day, November 29, George was in and out of consciousness. Olivia said he was chanting the ''Hare Krishna'' prayer as he died... In Hindu tradition, George was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Ganges river... So, what to make of this extraordinary man and life? He seemed to live in contradiction. I believe his naughty behavior were the steps he needed to take to find his peace. And, I do believe he got there at the end. Ultimately, it doesn't matter if he wasn't a saint--- he never claimed to be--- but, what he left us. Like John, George is best represented in his music. And, in the music, was a witty, intelligent, gentle, sincere man who wanted to bring love to the world. My heart still gently weeps for the ''Quiet Beatle'', which he wasn't by the way.... John, Paul, George, and Ringo made music that forever will be in our genetic systems, but, more importantly, they were very human men who had the flaws we all do. They are family. And, George was the son who showed us the beauty when the sun comes...