Mister Slusher died December 3. He was at home, attended by loved ones.
Ken made
names for himself as a documentary photographer in silver print and video.
He made art his entire adult life using at least six artistic personas (a group show at the Blue
Heron in 1990 featured Slusher as K. L. Slusher, Bennie Driver and R. Mutt). He made video,
photographs (with a wooden camera, a digital camera and most everything in between), sculpture
and assemblage, music with his voice and a variety of wind, stringed, and percussive instruments,
with the occasional foray into the written word. He made art all the time. When he wasn't he might
be sailing, kayaking, or camping. In his spare time he did things like drive a bus to Vashon and
back and curate the OpenMondays gallery. Eventually he turned to planting and landscaping,
rewiring, building cabinets, staircases, and other home improvements but he was never not an
artist or musician.
Except maybe a long, long time ago. When Ken was almost eighteen,
he was selected and screened, found squeaky clean and became a
teenage spy.
Weeks into spy school, Ken was notified his father was ill.
Ken's mother had just divorced Owen. Owen K Slusher died at 39.
Ken completed spy school while grieving.
He was told spy school made him a valuable asset. He felt his safety
was assured. He would serve on listening posts overseas. In 1967, Ken
was in Turkey. Before his shift, Ken liked to study the bulletin board. On
June 8th, troops crowded around the bulletin board.
The
USS Liberty
was under attack. The Liberty was a floating listening post.
The troops on the floating listening post sent distress calls.
Aircraft were half way to the floating listening post when High command ordered
them back to their carrier.
The troops on the floating listening post could not understand why Israel
had targeted them. The Israelis, confused by lack of return fire,
briefly
paused the attack to ensure none of their vessels were smoldering.
Satisfied by the roll call, Israel resumed the attack on the Liberty.
The troops on the floating listening post sent more distress calls.
Another base dispatched aircraft. Again High command refused air support
for the floating listening post. The troops around the bulletin
board shared silent bewilderment. What did it mean to be a valuable asset? How might their
listening post be used? There was no debriefing.
Specialist Slusher was nineteen. He worked his shift.
A trained cook, Ken could earn a living on land or sea. Before he completed high school he spent a summer
working on a fish tour boat out of Westport. Stopping on the Pacific Coast after the service,
Ken then went on to Kentucky where he held a variety of unsatisfying jobs and also served as a volunteer fire fighter.
He went to Petersburg, Alaska for seasonal work fish processing, and lived for a while in Tacoma and Bellingham before finally
settling in and around Seattle.
Ken quit driving a bus in 1996. During the 1990s Ken published a web
page. He devoted more energy to music
making, and he began learning computers and producing video. He has two
DVD titles
at KCLS and one VHS title sold at the Museum of Flight.
He also poured a lot of time and energy into creating his home and garden in Boulevard Park.
Ken designed and built his own outdoor barbecue and his own kitchen where
he entertained friends for decades.
Increasingly interested in social and economic justice, Ken became more politically
aware and outspoken in the late nineties and early aughts. He used his video camera
to document lectures, interviews, marches and civil disobedience. He maintained the
annual tradition of celebrating his birthday the Saturday after Labor Day. His
parties still attracted a lot of artist friends
(John Logan
Harter
until his death) plus musicians, environmentalists, peace activists, and their friends.
Ken continued to use the 5x7
camera
and print in the dark room he designed and built.
I last remember him developing film in 2004.
I carried the camera for him as recently as 2013.
Ken quit alcohol in 2006 and later that year suffered a hernia.
As a consequence of treating the hernia, Ken learned he had HCV and cirrhosis.
Ken attributed his HCV to his military service but the VA repeatedly denied his claim.
Ken did some cognitive therapy. He asked me for another chance.
We named the previous relationship Phase One and grew a new relationship which we called Phase Two.
In 2008, we both lost our best friends.
We comforted each other.
We sought to honor our friends who had left the party so early by
living as well as possible for as long as possible.
We talked about our experience of being alive, our expectations of death.
He loved life, he loved making art, he loved his home.
Art would be his legacy, the memories of friends, and whatever carbon he could return.
Liver cancer was diagnosed in April 2010. We learned the VA's
end stage liver disease patients die about a year after diagnosis.
Many of these patients never give up alcohol.
We wanted to know the best case scenario: how long might Mister Slusher live with end stage liver disease?
There was discussion about our question.
The VA has a ward for terminal liver patients. Liver patients spend all day in bed. They need help with
all activities of daily living.
They frequently talk nonsense. They can hang on for years.
The question was resubmitted.
The answer: Two to five good years.
Ken entered Hospice in July 2013. Hospice has a Pinning Ceremony offered to Veterans. Ken had his Pinning Ceremony at his home in
January 2014.
Two friends of Ken took pictures. Here are their galleries:
Donna Andrews and
Cliff Wells.
June 21, 2014, Ken and I spent the day in Washington D.C. as guests of
Honor Flight. Some photos of our trip above.
2014
November 23 a Hospice nurse (not our usual one) came to Ken's home to check on us.
She asked Ken if he knew where he was. He answered he was 'in a safe and happy place'.
She pointed to me and asked if he knew who I was. Ken said 'that must be Paulette'.
November 30
Ken needs assistance with all activities of daily living.
Poor balance, weakness and Rx side effects have resulted in Ken falling at home three times this week.
Ken and I went to the VA 11/28 to see Ken's primary care MD. There was nothing the hospital could do for
Ken that I couldn't do for him better at home. The decline would not necessarily be linear.
Ken would sleep more and more and
become less aware. In the meantime I could provide nourishment and fluids whenever Ken is interested.
(Ken still likes cranberry orange cake and is a big fan of crisp cookies. Favorites are white chocolate macadamia, ginger snaps,
and walnut chocolate chip.
He still likes granny smith apple slices and orange segments too.)
Dr B cannot say how many months Ken has remaining.
Wednesday December 3
Ken's MDs weigh in:
Primary Care, letter:
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Slusher's death. He was a remarkable man.
He was amazingly lucky to have you as a caregiver.
Even when people have been ill for years, there is always something
sudden and unexpected about death.
Please take care and know that my thoughts are with you.
Hepatologist, voicemail:
I heard the news about Ken and I just wanted to call and let you know I am sorry that he's gone
but it was really an honor taking care of him and it was a pleasure getting to know you as well.
So I hope that he was comfortable as he passed and if there's anything that I can do [...] please
give me a call [...] Thanks again for taking such wonderful care of Ken.
Okay. Take care bye bye.
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* * * FROM KEN'S PAPERS * * *
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