Hi Ed,
I lost my dad Aug. 2000. Some days it feels like it was just yesterday... He was 64, diabetic, had kidney disease, and ultimately his heart gave out. He was a very independent man and we too, could not envision him loosing any of his abilities like walking and seeing...but it was happening. He passed away in his sleep at his cabin and to a light rain.
I know I was in a fog in the days, months there after. I know when 9/11 happened I wanted to call my dad for comfort but I couldn't. He wasn't there to walk me down the aisle or later meet his grandchildren by me and 2 of my 3 sisters. But inevitabley it happens, we are called up to Heaven where there is no more pain, no more sadness, and we are given new bodies. I take comfort in knowing I will see him again in the hereafter. Doesn't erase the hurt I feel for missing my dad though.
And stories and memories are what keep them alive. I just ran into the village president who worked under my dad in an engineering plant...I got to hear a story about my dad that I had never heard. It was amazing. My dad really was a stand up guy...ok, so he had some anger issues....but ultimatley he was a good man and he worked his tail off for his family to have what we had.
No don't go packing like 10 pairs of socks and nothing else that matches to wear like my second oldest sister did...when she rushed to get home.
And you know how people bring food for the family during those times? We had a meat tray and my uncle from MA. was here and asked about the sandwich meat. We told him it was on a table on the front porch. He came back in and said, ha ha, very funny. All that was there was lettuce.
Turns out my shepard ate the meat tray.
She ended up eating two meat trays during those days.
Laughter is always nice. My dad would have had some good one liners to say about that time...
or how my sister served our Pastor coffee out of a playboy cup absent mindedly....
...and I kept talking to her in the kitchen saying, is that REALLY the cup you want to serve it in?
She didn't hear me...everyone is in a fog.
But everyone noticed once he started drinking from it...including him.
ooooh memories.
Love in Christ,
Gretchen
I lost my dad Aug. 2000. Some days it feels like it was just yesterday... He was 64, diabetic, had kidney disease, and ultimately his heart gave out. He was a very independent man and we too, could not envision him loosing any of his abilities like walking and seeing...but it was happening. He passed away in his sleep at his cabin and to a light rain.
I know I was in a fog in the days, months there after. I know when 9/11 happened I wanted to call my dad for comfort but I couldn't. He wasn't there to walk me down the aisle or later meet his grandchildren by me and 2 of my 3 sisters. But inevitabley it happens, we are called up to Heaven where there is no more pain, no more sadness, and we are given new bodies. I take comfort in knowing I will see him again in the hereafter. Doesn't erase the hurt I feel for missing my dad though.
And stories and memories are what keep them alive. I just ran into the village president who worked under my dad in an engineering plant...I got to hear a story about my dad that I had never heard. It was amazing. My dad really was a stand up guy...ok, so he had some anger issues....but ultimatley he was a good man and he worked his tail off for his family to have what we had.
No don't go packing like 10 pairs of socks and nothing else that matches to wear like my second oldest sister did...when she rushed to get home.
And you know how people bring food for the family during those times? We had a meat tray and my uncle from MA. was here and asked about the sandwich meat. We told him it was on a table on the front porch. He came back in and said, ha ha, very funny. All that was there was lettuce.
Turns out my shepard ate the meat tray.
She ended up eating two meat trays during those days.
Laughter is always nice. My dad would have had some good one liners to say about that time...
or how my sister served our Pastor coffee out of a playboy cup absent mindedly....
...and I kept talking to her in the kitchen saying, is that REALLY the cup you want to serve it in?
She didn't hear me...everyone is in a fog.
But everyone noticed once he started drinking from it...including him.
ooooh memories.
Love in Christ,
Gretchen
