Funeral for my father
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:29 am
Today was a most difficult day. I arrived in New York yesterday, along with other family members and it was snowing and quite cold.
I had bought the ticket a few days ago, as soon as I heard my father had just a few days left. He passed away the day before my arrival, which coincidentally was my wife's 50th birthday. Without thinking twice, I kept my daughter home from school and we put together a fantastic celebration for my wife that night and toasted her birthday and my father's life.
Today was the funeral and I was the second to speak, after my father's wife (my step-mother) and it was very cathartic. I have always been close to both of my parents and my father was a kind and generous soul and instilled many wonderful qualities that I hope to continue passing along to my young daughter. Later in life, my dad became more of an inspirational friend as well.
Although my father was not in public view today or even in a casket, my brother and I were able to see him lying in a private room. I was very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with him today and say my goodbye in this way, after being 24 hours too late. Fortunately I had spent the better part of six weeks with him in 2008.
Today was a very difficult day in realizing I will never see my own father again, a sobering thought for anybody who loses a parent or loved one. After years of suffering a slow and debilitating bout with Alzheimer's my father is finally at peace and for this my brother and I were most thankful.
I had bought the ticket a few days ago, as soon as I heard my father had just a few days left. He passed away the day before my arrival, which coincidentally was my wife's 50th birthday. Without thinking twice, I kept my daughter home from school and we put together a fantastic celebration for my wife that night and toasted her birthday and my father's life.
Today was the funeral and I was the second to speak, after my father's wife (my step-mother) and it was very cathartic. I have always been close to both of my parents and my father was a kind and generous soul and instilled many wonderful qualities that I hope to continue passing along to my young daughter. Later in life, my dad became more of an inspirational friend as well.
Although my father was not in public view today or even in a casket, my brother and I were able to see him lying in a private room. I was very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with him today and say my goodbye in this way, after being 24 hours too late. Fortunately I had spent the better part of six weeks with him in 2008.
Today was a very difficult day in realizing I will never see my own father again, a sobering thought for anybody who loses a parent or loved one. After years of suffering a slow and debilitating bout with Alzheimer's my father is finally at peace and for this my brother and I were most thankful.
friends! :winepour