Final Goodbye
To my Papa: I have known you my entire life...I'm your "little peanut"...we loved your hatred for squirrels...the "twinkle" in your eye...and your prickly white beard. In only a short period, we've all watched you deteriorate into someone we barely recognize.
You have married, raised 5 children...and left behind a legacy. In your place remains your wife...your five children; one of them my father, another my Godmother, two aunts very close to me, and an uncle who has served his country. You have raised amazing children; who grew into amazing adults; caring, loving, and intelligent. And because of you, a whole new generation of Koelzers has been started.
We never got too close...and I'm sorry about that.
I have never before seen my father so upset, so sad, and so helpless...and it breaks my heart. No matter how many fights he and I have gotten in; no matter how many times I wanted him to leave...it breaks my heart to see him so...lost. You matter to so many people, and we all love you dearly.
Visiting you in the nursing home was terrible...and I wanted to take you home...to your family, right then and there. It brought tears to my eyes when you remembered the lyrics to old Christmas favorites...when you couldn't even remember your wife half the time.
To me...you've been gone a while now. You are no longer the Papa I remember...nor the Papa I want to remember. To me...you have been gone. And I can only hope that soon your body will follow your mind...so you no longer are suffering.
You'll be taken to the Kingdom of Heaven...where you belong. I hope you can finally find peace, your passed family, and an end to your pain. I love you, and I miss you.
"The pain passes, but the beauty remains"
You have married, raised 5 children...and left behind a legacy. In your place remains your wife...your five children; one of them my father, another my Godmother, two aunts very close to me, and an uncle who has served his country. You have raised amazing children; who grew into amazing adults; caring, loving, and intelligent. And because of you, a whole new generation of Koelzers has been started.
We never got too close...and I'm sorry about that.
I have never before seen my father so upset, so sad, and so helpless...and it breaks my heart. No matter how many fights he and I have gotten in; no matter how many times I wanted him to leave...it breaks my heart to see him so...lost. You matter to so many people, and we all love you dearly.
Visiting you in the nursing home was terrible...and I wanted to take you home...to your family, right then and there. It brought tears to my eyes when you remembered the lyrics to old Christmas favorites...when you couldn't even remember your wife half the time.
To me...you've been gone a while now. You are no longer the Papa I remember...nor the Papa I want to remember. To me...you have been gone. And I can only hope that soon your body will follow your mind...so you no longer are suffering.
You'll be taken to the Kingdom of Heaven...where you belong. I hope you can finally find peace, your passed family, and an end to your pain. I love you, and I miss you.
"The pain passes, but the beauty remains"