Micah 6:8
Hosea 13:14 1 Corinthians 15:51-56
Yes, your life matters.
Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
Today's post is coming a bit late, but I have a good reason for that - I'm simply worn out from emotion. My 92.7-year-old father died last night, and I've spent much of the day calling friends to tell them and making initial arrangements. Frankly, it sucks. (note: Dad was an engineer, so he would have liked the 92.7 age reference.)
Dad spent the last two months almost exclusively in a hospital bed, first in hospital, then at home where he could watch the birds in the back yard listen to the music and watch the things he wanted, and where he was in charge of how many visitors he could have. For a man who - right up to his hospital stay - was always able to be independent, being stuck in a bed, depending on others for everything was pure torture.
It was amazing to watch him when he had visits - whether from friends and family or from the hospice folks - as he was always still interested in and checking on how everyone else was doing. He never lost that other-people-are-important sense of the world. He still treated everyone with even more respect than they deserved - a model for the rest of us.
I am going to miss him fiercely, but I'm happy to know he's gone to be with his Lord, and with his beloved Shirley, my Mom. I'm looking forward to seeing them both someday.
To add commemoration to injury, today, the day after Dad died, was the 29th anniversary of the death of Roger Miller, one of Dad's musical heroes.
Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.
1 comment:
More respect than they deserved. Always. Miss him something fierce. Love you Dad.
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