My father

Spexxvet · 12-30-2010, 10:18 PM

He told stories about how, as a child, he followed the horse-drawn ice truck, as it delivered ice in North Philadelphia. He was the sonar man on a minesweeper that swept Nagasaki harbor at the end of WWII. After the service he graduated from Temple University. He taught elementary Phys Ed for almost 40 years. He ALWAYS had a second job, and a summer job. He was handy, generous, kind, and a goofball. After a long illness in 2000/2001, he used a walker or wheelchair. For the last couple of years he has not known his family's names, who they were, and sometime where he was. Last week he kicked a nursing home aid in the chest. Yesterday he died of pneumonia as I held his hand.

anonymous · 12-30-2010, 10:19 PM

So very sorry for your loss.
So glad you have such great memories of a great father.

Clodfobble · 12-30-2010, 10:20 PM

Sorry for your loss, Spexx.

Shawnee123 · 12-30-2010, 10:22 PM

I'm sorry Spexx. He sounds like he was a wonderful person. What experiences!

BigV · 12-30-2010, 11:10 PM

Awww Spexx.

I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. Your memories you shared with us of him are wonderful. Though his body is gone, clearly he lives in your spirit, and always will.

Undertoad · 12-30-2010, 11:12 PM

Goodnight sir, you did your job on this earth beautifully.

Lamplighter · 12-30-2010, 11:14 PM

Yes Spec, I'm sorry for your loss
Your brief post shows a deep relationship with your Dad, and it's good that you were with him at the end.
A career of 40 years teaching is wonderful thing...a life well spent

xoxoxoBruce · 12-30-2010, 11:28 PM

Sorry Spexx, I'm familiar with how hard the not knowing names, and striking out at the Aids, is on the whole family. He's found his peace, I hope you can find yours.

casimendocina · 12-30-2010, 11:56 PM

Sorry to hear about the loss of your dad Spexx.
Saw this on a card and really liked it: "to live on in the hearts of those we loved is not to die."

Big Sarge · 12-30-2010, 11:59 PM

Sorry for your loss. He must have been quite a man

Sundae · 12-31-2010, 05:07 AM

Very sorry to hear that Spexx.
And I'm pleased that you were able to be there at the end, even if he couldn't appreciate it himself.
What a massive hole he will leave in your life - you have my sincere sympathy.

glatt · 12-31-2010, 06:12 AM

I'm sorry for your loss, Spex. He sounds like a great guy.

Trilby · 12-31-2010, 06:43 AM

I'm sorry to hear this Spexx.

limey · 12-31-2010, 06:47 AM

So sorry Spexx. You have great memories of good times with your father. Keep those bright and let later, sadder, ones fade as they should.

Griff · 12-31-2010, 07:06 AM

I sorry for your loss man, but it sounds like Dad's life was rich with experience and quite complete. I don't know how anyone could ask for more.

12-30-2010, 10:18 PM	#1
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	My father He told stories about how, as a child, he followed the horse-drawn ice truck, as it delivered ice in North Philadelphia. He was the sonar man on a minesweeper that swept Nagasaki harbor at the end of WWII. After the service he graduated from Temple University. He taught elementary Phys Ed for almost 40 years. He ALWAYS had a second job, and a summer job. He was handy, generous, kind, and a goofball. After a long illness in 2000/2001, he used a walker or wheelchair. For the last couple of years he has not known his family's names, who they were, and sometime where he was. Last week he kicked a nursing home aid in the chest. Yesterday he died of pneumonia as I held his hand. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

12-30-2010, 10:20 PM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Sorry for your loss, Spexx. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

12-30-2010, 10:22 PM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I'm sorry Spexx. He sounds like he was a wonderful person. What experiences! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

12-30-2010, 11:10 PM	#5
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Awww Spexx. I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. Your memories you shared with us of him are wonderful. Though his body is gone, clearly he lives in your spirit, and always will. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-30-2010, 11:28 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Sorry Spexx, I'm familiar with how hard the not knowing names, and striking out at the Aids, is on the whole family. He's found his peace, I hope you can find yours. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-30-2010, 10:19 PM	#2
anonymous Operations Operative Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: in hiding Posts: 578	So very sorry for your loss. So glad you have such great memories of a great father.

12-30-2010, 11:12 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Goodnight sir, you did your job on this earth beautifully.

12-30-2010, 11:14 PM	#7
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Yes Spec, I'm sorry for your loss Your brief post shows a deep relationship with your Dad, and it's good that you were with him at the end. A career of 40 years teaching is wonderful thing...a life well spent

12-30-2010, 11:56 PM	#9
casimendocina Professor Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,622	Sorry to hear about the loss of your dad Spexx. Saw this on a card and really liked it: "to live on in the hearts of those we loved is not to die."

12-30-2010, 11:59 PM	#10
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Sorry for your loss. He must have been quite a man __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

12-31-2010, 05:07 AM	#11
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Very sorry to hear that Spexx. And I'm pleased that you were able to be there at the end, even if he couldn't appreciate it himself. What a massive hole he will leave in your life - you have my sincere sympathy. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-31-2010, 06:12 AM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm sorry for your loss, Spex. He sounds like a great guy.

12-31-2010, 06:43 AM	#13
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I'm sorry to hear this Spexx. __________________ 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

12-31-2010, 06:47 AM	#14
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	So sorry Spexx. You have great memories of good times with your father. Keep those bright and let later, sadder, ones fade as they should. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

12-31-2010, 07:06 AM	#15
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I sorry for your loss man, but it sounds like Dad's life was rich with experience and quite complete. I don't know how anyone could ask for more. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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