80 Years

[cbtreks]

My dad would've been 80 today. He was hoping he might live to see 70 but was only 66 when he died. I don't think it's a surprise that he died younger than he would've like since he was in ill health for 50 years of his life (he had ankylosing spondylitis) and when he came down with the pneumonia that killed him, he was in a weakened state, having finished a course of prophylactic chemo less than 6 weeks before. Additionally, only one of his 3 brothers and 2 of his 3 sisters lived past their 60s. Their dad died 2 weeks short of his 73rd birthday. So although his death was unexpected at the time it wasn't a huge shock. It's hard to imagine him at 80 years old. Would he be even more stooped that he was in 2007? Would he have finally let his hair be it's natural gray color? I know he'd be so proud of his grandkids and would love his great-grandkids. I do believe he's in a better place and has a new, healthy body with no pain and I wouldn't ask for him back. I'm actually happy for him that he didn't have to live through this pandemic because he would've hated it - he liked to go to coffee shops on Saturday mornings, was always very active in his church, and never knew a stranger. But I miss him every day, especially on his birthday.

(On a happier note, it's also my youngest aunt's birthday - she's 64 today - so happy birthday to her!)