Bad News Packers
I just received an e-mail from Randy, Ryan(my ex-boyfriend)’s younger brother. I haven’t spoken to anyone in the O’Neil family since January, so needless to say I was a little more than shocked to see one an e-mail from one of them. My state of being shocked was then blanketed with fear; the title of the e-mail said ‘Bad News’.
“Oh no- Something has happened to Ryan! Oh please no!” was all I could think before being brave enough to click the mouse and open the e-mail.
((He and his family have been in my thoughts the past couple of days and I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t push the thoughts aside like I usually do, instead I allowed myself to ponder.)) …
I finally grew up the courage and clicked the mouse:
Hello Sierra I just wanted to tell you that there is some bad news in the family. On Monday my Dad died. He was sick for three weeks in the hospital and had open heart surgery on monday and he didnt make it. I know you met my dad a couple of times and I wanted you to know. His funeral service is this saturday. I sorry I didnt have good news but I will talk to you soon.
Thanks Randy
I felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks. Don (or THE Don, as he was popularly known as) was such a good, decent, and down to earth man (even if he was a Packers fan ;-) . He would do anything for anyone and he loved with his whole heart. In fact, Don was so generous to even share his frog legs with me one night. *smiles* (However, I should have let him keep them.) He was the guy who married his high school sweet heart and fought in Vietnam. He had three beautiful children and a large, yet close knit group of friends and family, which, to him, were one in the same. I don’t think there is anything negative that anyone could say about this man and if there was he would have been the first to say it.
Ryan and he were oh so very close. Every time I talked to him he would tell me about what he and his Dad had done that day or what they were going to go; he adored his father like I have never seen anyone adore anyone before. They even sat at the dinner table the same way- I can clearly remember one evening when his parents took us out to ‘Hasses’, their favorite place to eat, and looking over at Ryan and then Don as they sat there next to one another. Ryan, legs spread, back slumped in a very “cool” way, left arm cocked straight down resting his hand on his left thigh, right hand using a tooth pick to entertain his mouth. I then looked over at Don who was in the exact same position. I giggled then and it still makes me giggle now. There was no doubting that those two were related.
I can only imagine how bad the O’Neil family is hurting and honestly, I hurt too. I wish there was something I could do but I know that in the end there truly is nothing that anyone can do. And Ryan, oh dear Ryan, I know how badly you’ve got to be taking this and I wish I could just ease your pain. Despite everything between us I wish I could be there for you; I wish I could hold you and let you cry (like the way you use to let me). I guess this terrible event has made me realize I miss you more than I thought and I truly hate that you’re hurting.
I pray for the O’Neil family and hope that Don is in a better place. I also hope that his family can be strong and that they find strength to laugh once again because I know that that is what he would want.
With all of my heart I give you my deepest condolences.
Sincerely,
Sierra
“Oh no- Something has happened to Ryan! Oh please no!” was all I could think before being brave enough to click the mouse and open the e-mail.
((He and his family have been in my thoughts the past couple of days and I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t push the thoughts aside like I usually do, instead I allowed myself to ponder.)) …
I finally grew up the courage and clicked the mouse:
Hello Sierra I just wanted to tell you that there is some bad news in the family. On Monday my Dad died. He was sick for three weeks in the hospital and had open heart surgery on monday and he didnt make it. I know you met my dad a couple of times and I wanted you to know. His funeral service is this saturday. I sorry I didnt have good news but I will talk to you soon.
Thanks Randy
I felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks. Don (or THE Don, as he was popularly known as) was such a good, decent, and down to earth man (even if he was a Packers fan ;-) . He would do anything for anyone and he loved with his whole heart. In fact, Don was so generous to even share his frog legs with me one night. *smiles* (However, I should have let him keep them.) He was the guy who married his high school sweet heart and fought in Vietnam. He had three beautiful children and a large, yet close knit group of friends and family, which, to him, were one in the same. I don’t think there is anything negative that anyone could say about this man and if there was he would have been the first to say it.
Ryan and he were oh so very close. Every time I talked to him he would tell me about what he and his Dad had done that day or what they were going to go; he adored his father like I have never seen anyone adore anyone before. They even sat at the dinner table the same way- I can clearly remember one evening when his parents took us out to ‘Hasses’, their favorite place to eat, and looking over at Ryan and then Don as they sat there next to one another. Ryan, legs spread, back slumped in a very “cool” way, left arm cocked straight down resting his hand on his left thigh, right hand using a tooth pick to entertain his mouth. I then looked over at Don who was in the exact same position. I giggled then and it still makes me giggle now. There was no doubting that those two were related.
I can only imagine how bad the O’Neil family is hurting and honestly, I hurt too. I wish there was something I could do but I know that in the end there truly is nothing that anyone can do. And Ryan, oh dear Ryan, I know how badly you’ve got to be taking this and I wish I could just ease your pain. Despite everything between us I wish I could be there for you; I wish I could hold you and let you cry (like the way you use to let me). I guess this terrible event has made me realize I miss you more than I thought and I truly hate that you’re hurting.
I pray for the O’Neil family and hope that Don is in a better place. I also hope that his family can be strong and that they find strength to laugh once again because I know that that is what he would want.
With all of my heart I give you my deepest condolences.
Sincerely,
Sierra