Damn man! I just realized y'all do the date backwards from us. I commented on Galen's post earlier and thought it was back in January. I didn't realize it was so recently. I was my dad's caretaker for many years before he passed so this really just hit me in a different way than this morning. I remembered what a life your dad must have led from much of what you and your brother have shared from time to time. The WW2 story of the Brits getting run off and the Japanese taking the island always stuck with me. I never knew your dad and recall how these last years have been difficult for you all. I vicariously missed my dad through yours in the past and I know your pops would be proud to leave his legacy with his children. If you and Galen are any indicator of what a great man he was then that says a great deal of the blessing he must have been to all that knew him truly. My heart and prayers are with you and your families. One thing that helped me manage my grief in bereaving my dad was considering what his gain was as opposed to my loss. Everyone meant well saying "Sorry for your loss." It was like a knife every time i heard those words. My dad suffered in his last years and being happy for his gain was more in line with how i appreciated the gravity of things. My dad gained the peace i had wished for him for a very long time. I hope the potential opportunity to use that flip of the script may be helpful. Love you guys man.
D/M/Y smallest to largest - the rest of the world makes sense ;)
It was definitely the best thing for him to go and I much prefer to lose him than him be in any more pain than he must. The last years took their toll and I am glad that Galen was there to care for him. When it comes to the loss of his life as someone I care deeply about, I don't feel it as a loss in the same sense as many perhaps as I see that a lot of don't actually live that much as we spend our time trying to get somewhere else. He lived a life.
I remember some of the health issues that he was enduring for a while and i know exactly how you feel about letting them go to that peace. I didn't want to say too much so as not to reveal anything that wasn't needed to be out for everyone to know all the details. I recall how it had been difficult for you to be there and the family to be scattered. I am glad that you have the outlook that you do. It will make the grieving process go much smoother. For me the grief comes in waves having lost my daughter and dad. I have managed fairly well. You are right... the World does make sense and us 'Mericans do things the hard way. I have my phone on C so i can get a sense of what it's really like. We were around 34 but felt like almost 40 today here in Texas. Day Month Year... they taught me that in French class but i guess i didn't pay enough attention! Take care brother. Holler at me if you need to talk or anything browski. =)