Posted on 05/18/2004 4:31:02 PM PDT by GeronL
On the evening of May 5th I heard my father call me from the living room. I was there within a few seconds to see him collapse to the floor gasping. He was not choking, but it sure seemed close.
I called 9-1-1 immediately and then called family and friends. They live close by.
The paramedics took their time after they parked and were rude and brusque. Three of his children,me included, were outside the apartment crying. They said it did not look good, he was not responding.
We were all at the hospital when they told us he had passed on. When we were ready, they said, we could see his body. They took it to the morgue before we could.
The days have been a blur since then. I have not been back to FR at all until now. I have come by the apartment a few times to feed the cat and water the plants.
I am still in a state of disbelief since the shock wore off.
He had a few marriages, had two daughters with a wife named Doris. They are both nearing fifty now and only one of them attended the funeral.
He married my mother Nora Ann and they stayed together until her death (murder) almost exactly 20 years ago. They had five children, although the oldest had been born before they met. Me, my brother and three sisters might be poor, but we had the best parents.
He worked in the City of Irving Sanitation Department for a very long time driving (operating) heavy equipment. He retired about a decade ago after major surgery resulted from complications of appendicitis.
He was a good man, the best I'll ever know. He was loved dearly by all those who knew him. I stayed by his side when he was in the hospital a decade ago. I have lived with him since. He has seemed strong for most of that time and did not need help. I was the one being helped.
Immediately after the funeral ended, it began to rain. People were soon running for their cars and I was soon alone with the casket and the man who would lower it. I could think of nothing to say except "Bye Daddy".
I'm sorry. ...lost my dad not long ago, too.
That will hold you GeronL; that and your promise.
There is no substitute for 'being here now' with the person you love; but that is a 'pain and suffering' of life. . .In your grief; you still have your fortune; you had the love and blessings of a wonderful parent. And while your life has changed; the loving bond you shared with your Father, has not
That loving bond is the starting point, GeronL - for the rest of your story.
Be brave; God bless and good luck. . .and don't wait too long to 'get going'. ;^)
My Dad died two years ago this July. Thank you for expressing some of my heart in your farewell.
May God bless you and keep you.
God bless you during such a difficult time.
It has been 8 years since my father's death and reading your post has brought it flooding back.
My deepest sympathy.
Be true to your promises and trust the Lord GL, and you'll do fine.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am sorry and sad to hear this news. I will pray for you and your family every year on the anniversary of his death, you see May 5th is my birthday and long ago I made it a habit to pray for the families of those who have sorrow on that day.
I can honestly say, I know what you are feeling. I will surely be praying for you and your family and friends.
Both of our dads are gone. And then in January we lost our younger daughter. At least she is there to welcome my 100 year old mom home. I talked with my mom today and she sounded great. She really misses her granddaughter. It is always hard when a parents leaves us. Prayers being said.
My most heartfelt condolences on the death of your beloved father.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Dads are our first heroes. They never really stop being our hero. We grow up thinking of them as giants. The kind of men we hope one day to be but in fact can only strive to be. When they fall or show signs of human failing, we are often shocked, but later learn that what we see in them is only what is within ourselves. I can never hope to be the man Dad was, in his devotion and service to family, community, and country. But in his passing I resolved to honor his memory in some way every day, not only by thinking of him, but by doing what I think he might have done were he in my place. That is not living his life, or denying who you are, but is part of the striving to better yourself, to achieve the goal of following Dad's example and being better than you are without it. So if that takes the form of showing kindness to someone in need, providing help for another who is in distress, showing affection for another who would be uplifted from it, or compassion for another in pain, do that, and say a prayer for the soul of the one who brought you into the world and has gone before you from it. His light and love will be there for you the rest of your days and beyond.
I am so very sorry for your loss, GeronL. He knows you love him...
My deepest condolences and prayers for you Geron.
very,very sorry, Geron.....thank you for telling us.
I'm so sorry for your loss. A recent roommate lost his 8-month-pregnant wife on their 1st anniversary just a couple of months ago in a car wreck, and so such grief is fresh in my heart.
Sorry for your loss, Geron.
You've presented a fine tribute to your Daddy.
Says an awful lot about his son IMO.
Prayers for you and your family.
It sounds like you two had an extra special relationship. May our Heavenly Father grant you his peace.
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