Rest easy pops

DanaC · 02-24-2009, 11:14 AM

This morning I went to the hospital with my mum and my brother and held dad's hand whilst he died.

I'll post a little more later. I was ok til I started typing. I'm ok, I'm not coming apart. It's not a devastating blow. It's the end of a journey begun a few years ago; one we could see coming, though you can never be quite sure when. He fought. He saw twice as many Christmases as they'd predicted, three times even. Just recently, maybe a couple of weeks, not even that, his best friend died. I think he gave up a little after that. There wasn't much left to take joy in, when every breath's a battle and thoughts are scattered by lack of oxygen. And the person he felt closest to no longer there.

Sleep now, Dad. Rest easy. It's over.

glatt · 02-24-2009, 11:15 AM

Sorry, Dana.

Undertoad · 02-24-2009, 11:19 AM

Very sad Dana. Take care of yourself.

footfootfoot · 02-24-2009, 11:20 AM

I'm sorry Dana.

Pie · 02-24-2009, 11:51 AM

I'm sorry, Dana. Be there for your Mum and your brother; I hope they are there for you.

wolf · 02-24-2009, 12:13 PM

My condolences to you and your family, Dana.

Shawnee123 · 02-24-2009, 12:23 PM

I'm sorry, Dana. Warm thoughts to you and your family.

classicman · 02-24-2009, 12:28 PM

Very sorry to hear that Dana - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

jinx · 02-24-2009, 12:31 PM

I'm so sorry Dana.

DanaC · 02-24-2009, 12:58 PM

Thankyou.

Y'know, it's funny, when I got home, this was the first place I headed to. *smiles*

I don't know, and don't care, whether this is the 'best' forum on teh interwebz, it's (you've) helped me rationalize and cope with troubled and troubling times. Like when Dad was still living in his cluttered wreck of a house, with no water supply, newly diagnosed with COPD and not coping. The three in the morning worries, the two in the morning phone calls and mad rushes to the hospital. |Talking through things here helped. That seems a mad time ago now.

Random fond memory of Dad: I'm 9 years old or thereabouts and we're walking through the park in the dead of night looking for bats and owls. We walk along the prom with its row of stately statues and Dad tells me the story of the White Lady, and the mysterious extra statue that appears only at night and only out of the corner of your eye. We stop and sit on a bench overlooking the sweeping slope and Dad opens up the thermos flask and pours us both hot tea. We are well wrapped in our winter coats and warming our hands on the plastic cups. Dad spots a hedgehog, ambling along the path. We watch it for a while until it vanishes under the bushes.

On the way home we see a bat fly right past us. I can't recall what he told me...probably the latin name for the bat and something about their habits. We continue our walk home, lighting our way through the dark paths with our sturdy torches. I recall we laughed. Dad played his harmonica. Not loud, just a low lament, western style.

SteveDallas · 02-24-2009, 01:04 PM

I'm so sorry to hear that Dana.

Cloud · 02-24-2009, 01:12 PM

I'm so glad that people here can help you. And keep remembering those fond memories!

Beestie · 02-24-2009, 01:20 PM

I'm very sorry to hear of this, Dana.

Let the good memories you shared together warm your heart.

Flint · 02-24-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Random fond memory of Dad: I'm 9 years old or thereabouts and we're walking through the park in the dead of night looking for bats and owls. We walk along the prom with its row of stately statues and Dad tells me the story of the White Lady, and the mysterious extra statue that appears only at night and only out of the corner of your eye. We stop and sit on a bench overlooking the sweeping slope and Dad opens up the thermos flask and pours us both hot tea. We are well wrapped in our winter coats and warming our hands on the plastic cups. Dad spots a hedgehog, ambling along the path. We watch it for a while until it vanishes under the bushes.

On the way home we see a bat fly right past us. I can't recall what he told me...probably the latin name for the bat and something about their habits. We continue our walk home, lighting our way through the dark paths with our sturdy torches. I recall we laughed. Dad played his harmonica. Not loud, just a low lament, western style.

Awesome. This is what a person is.

Trilby · 02-24-2009, 02:14 PM

My thoughts are with you and your family, Dana.

Peace.

02-24-2009, 11:14 AM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Rest easy pops This morning I went to the hospital with my mum and my brother and held dad's hand whilst he died. I'll post a little more later. I was ok til I started typing. I'm ok, I'm not coming apart. It's not a devastating blow. It's the end of a journey begun a few years ago; one we could see coming, though you can never be quite sure when. He fought. He saw twice as many Christmases as they'd predicted, three times even. Just recently, maybe a couple of weeks, not even that, his best friend died. I think he gave up a little after that. There wasn't much left to take joy in, when every breath's a battle and thoughts are scattered by lack of oxygen. And the person he felt closest to no longer there. Sleep now, Dad. Rest easy. It's over.

02-24-2009, 11:20 AM	#4
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I'm sorry Dana. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-24-2009, 11:51 AM	#5
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	I'm sorry, Dana. Be there for your Mum and your brother; I hope they are there for you. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

02-24-2009, 12:13 PM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	My condolences to you and your family, Dana. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-24-2009, 12:23 PM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I'm sorry, Dana. Warm thoughts to you and your family. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-24-2009, 11:15 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Sorry, Dana.

02-24-2009, 11:19 AM	#3
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Very sad Dana. Take care of yourself.

02-24-2009, 12:28 PM	#8
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Very sorry to hear that Dana - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

02-24-2009, 12:31 PM	#9
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	I'm so sorry Dana. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

02-24-2009, 12:58 PM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Thankyou. Y'know, it's funny, when I got home, this was the first place I headed to. smiles I don't know, and don't care, whether this is the 'best' forum on teh interwebz, it's (you've) helped me rationalize and cope with troubled and troubling times. Like when Dad was still living in his cluttered wreck of a house, with no water supply, newly diagnosed with COPD and not coping. The three in the morning worries, the two in the morning phone calls and mad rushes to the hospital. \|Talking through things here helped. That seems a mad time ago now. Random fond memory of Dad: I'm 9 years old or thereabouts and we're walking through the park in the dead of night looking for bats and owls. We walk along the prom with its row of stately statues and Dad tells me the story of the White Lady, and the mysterious extra statue that appears only at night and only out of the corner of your eye. We stop and sit on a bench overlooking the sweeping slope and Dad opens up the thermos flask and pours us both hot tea. We are well wrapped in our winter coats and warming our hands on the plastic cups. Dad spots a hedgehog, ambling along the path. We watch it for a while until it vanishes under the bushes. On the way home we see a bat fly right past us. I can't recall what he told me...probably the latin name for the bat and something about their habits. We continue our walk home, lighting our way through the dark paths with our sturdy torches. I recall we laughed. Dad played his harmonica. Not loud, just a low lament, western style.

02-24-2009, 01:04 PM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I'm so sorry to hear that Dana.

02-24-2009, 01:12 PM	#12
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I'm so glad that people here can help you. And keep remembering those fond memories! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-24-2009, 01:20 PM	#13
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	I'm very sorry to hear of this, Dana. Let the good memories you shared together warm your heart. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

02-24-2009, 02:14 PM	#15
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	My thoughts are with you and your family, Dana. Peace. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

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