Oh I dunno, I understood from some quotes I read that he was pretty relaxed about hooking up with Merle in the sweet by and by. When you know you are going to do that-- once the immediate loss has been encompassed-- it is possible to remain pretty perky about the whole of eternity. I've seen it among parishioners, especially the very old ones who have generally lived the lives they felt called to live. Our landlord was like that, about his own anticipated dying, and his widow is like that now.

Doc has such a strong spirit-- if he wanted to lay down and die, I imagine he could and would. I think he's too full of joy for life to want to do that.

~S~