4th has a different view for me
Today people will be off work, celebrating, barbequeing, watching fireworks and having pool parties celebrating the 4th of July. Today has a much different meaning for me.
On July 4 2002, my dad died. I was by his bedside in the hospital with my mom, sister and brother surrounding my dad as he slipped away from us after a long battle with cancer. I had watched him waste away to a shell of a man, the life drained from his once inspiring steel blue eyes. We had been told that he would pass that day most likely and he had been No Coded meaning if he started to pass, they would just make him comfortable and let it happen. It happened about 3:30 pm, his heart just gave way from the strain and stopped. We watched the heart monitor numbers go down, saw the breathes get shallower and shallower until he was gone. We all kissed him and went to make the necessary calls to extended family and friends.
I remember driving to my family home and feeling just numb and beaten down. I pulled up and saw where I had grown up, seeing my father in the front yard mowing the grass, playing with us kids, being the best dad anyone could ever want. Later that night I sat out under the huge magnolia in the front yard with my sister and we just held hands and sat there. We knew our lives had changed so much but we knew our dad was watching us always and would always be part of us.
If your parents, grandparents are still with you, make sure you call them. If not today at least soon, go see them. Treasure any and every moment you can get.
Daddy, I miss you.
On July 4 2002, my dad died. I was by his bedside in the hospital with my mom, sister and brother surrounding my dad as he slipped away from us after a long battle with cancer. I had watched him waste away to a shell of a man, the life drained from his once inspiring steel blue eyes. We had been told that he would pass that day most likely and he had been No Coded meaning if he started to pass, they would just make him comfortable and let it happen. It happened about 3:30 pm, his heart just gave way from the strain and stopped. We watched the heart monitor numbers go down, saw the breathes get shallower and shallower until he was gone. We all kissed him and went to make the necessary calls to extended family and friends.
I remember driving to my family home and feeling just numb and beaten down. I pulled up and saw where I had grown up, seeing my father in the front yard mowing the grass, playing with us kids, being the best dad anyone could ever want. Later that night I sat out under the huge magnolia in the front yard with my sister and we just held hands and sat there. We knew our lives had changed so much but we knew our dad was watching us always and would always be part of us.
If your parents, grandparents are still with you, make sure you call them. If not today at least soon, go see them. Treasure any and every moment you can get.
Daddy, I miss you.