Dad passed away Saturday morning.
Considerate of others to the end, he hung on until I arrived Friday night, (weather delays be damned), and then kindly gave me and my sister all day Saturday and Sunday morning to "do stuff."
Through the wee hours I sat as his bedside reminding him of the good times we had fishing, cooking, camping, Scouting. I chuckled that not a day passed that his voice didn't come out of my mouth. I reassured him that "the kids were alright" and that all would be well. He'd done his job. Several times I looked into his eyes and I know that he saw and heard me. On a couple of occasions as I just sat next to him I looked up and saw him looking at me. I met his gaze and he gave me a slow blink, as if to say, "Ya done good, Aggie."
Around 6:30, his breathing pattern changed. At the suggestion of the nurse I called my sister and held the phone up to his ear. He took a sharp deep breath and closed his eyes. I sang "Anchors Aweigh" to him as he sailed, just as he used to sing me to sleep.
Later, dozing at the hotel, I had a flash of an image: Dad dancing with his beloved Kathleen, his wife late in life, and then with my mother, who passed away decades ago. He was in the prime of life and had that mischievous look in his eyes. Mais oui, he was surrounded by family and friends at the biggest fais do do you ever did see, cher.
Laissez les bon temps roulez!
6 comments:
A beautiful post. I'm sure your father was comforted by your presence in those final hours. Thank you for sharing those moments with us. Look after yourself in the coming weeks.
Corrie, I'm so sorry for your loss. Blessings to you and your family - Dorene Humphries
Sorry to hear about your loss, but it sounds like you are at peace with it and have a healthy sense of closure and grief.
I hope that my daughters will sit by my side as I pass and tell me that I done good as well. Very touching post. Peace be with you at this time in your life.
They say that hearing is our last sense to leave us. I'm sure your father heard and was comforted by your words.
You bid him farewell with love and respect. And he will dance in your memories.
I can only pray my own passing will be so wonderful. Your vision of his arrival on that distant shore from whose borne no traveler returns is accurate, I believe.
Now the job begins, Corrie. Until you join him, you are a man. It is a significant change in your life. My father passed in 1978 and I gradually came to realize that while he lives in my every deed, every decision and even the way I walk and talk, I am on my own.
Thank you for sharing this with us and God bless you, your family and especially your father.
I lost my dad on Sunday morning. Your post touched me, as did your tweets during that time as well.
My little tribute, such as it is, is at my site -
http://web.me.com/jimmylogan/HomeAgain/Life/Entries/2010/5/6_where_I’ve_been.html
Peace
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