IN LOVING MEMORY

One week ago today my Dad was admitted to the hospital.
It was the first time I ever saw him as a patient.

Today, one week later, my Dad breathed his last breath.

While I fight so many emotions the one most prevalent is feeling numb ... and blind-sided.
And yet in the midst of what feels like a sudden loss I also am so very, very grateful.

I'm grateful the cancer was so aggressive it was lightening-speed fast.
No treatment, no appointments, none of that stuff for him.

He went out the way he lived his life: quiet and unassuming.

So I share some favorite memories of this incredible man, my Dad (in no particular order):

• The year we moved to California and mom said, "no" -- there was no room in the trunk of the car for my brand new jewelry box with the dancing ballerina. I was really sad about that but turned to go put it back in my bedroom. As I passed by, Dad said, "PPpppppsssssttt." He smiled from ear-to-ear as he pointed to a space he had made for my jewelry box in the trunk.
• The afternoon Dad and I went all over the farm collecting and cataloging various leaves for my third grade school project.
• The time he taught me how to do a "doughnut" on the tractor on the side of the hill. Mama was NOT happy about that. 
• When the earthquake hit the year we lived in California -- mom staggered all over the place trying to get to us and dad remained calm and in the bed until it was over. And he laughed at mama staggering all over the place!
• When Uncle Walt died and I stood at his coffin feeling an incredibly profound sadness, Dad came up to me, put his arms around me and sobbed with me as I mourned my dear uncle and he mourned his dear friend.
• One of the many family trips to the cabin and my cousin, Ellen, wonders why there are no run-away truck ramps going UP the mountain. There was a brief silence and then dad said, "You better be glad Susan wasn't here to hear that and repeat it!" (Which it did get back to Susan and Dad LOVED coaxing that story out of her!)
• This "tough" man who did not like to have pets was the one who always brought the animals home from the research lab, refusing to let them euthanize any of them. My favorite was Sheba, the 150-pound St. Bernard -- he did a hysterectomy on her ... and Fred the horse who needed open-heart surgery and Dad and Dr. Scott designed the early heart valve that would go on years later to save numerous individuals.
• He was so proud when he became a grandfather. I love how he vowed he would be called "Lee Roy" but the minute those precious children starting calling him "Pappaw" -- it was all over -- he was hooked!
• Years later I loved seeing my mom and dad out in the congregation to come hear me preach --knowing full well he really did not like that "praise and worship" kind of music ... but he loved me enough that he still came.
• He was an incredibly intelligent man to the point someone once asked me, "Does your dad eat books?"
• When I was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church, he proudly handed me his program afterwards. He had marked the exact time, to the second, that I was ordained.
• One very stormy afternoon in my teens, dad drove the tractor and mom and I sat on the back putting tobacco plants in the planter. We sang, we laughed, we talked and we got soaking wet. At the end of one row Dad stopped the tractor and turned around and looked at us and said, "See anything different about this row?" All three of us laughed when we realized mom and I had planted that entire row upside down.
• I loved rainy afternoons on the farm. Dad and I would sit out on the front porch and watch the storm.

So many memories ...

I cherish that the last thing we did was pray together. As I thanked God for the great privilege of being called his daughter, he squeezed my hand and then offered his own prayer of thanks for all his children. That was just a few days ago and I cling to that sacred moment.

Rest in peace, my sweet Dad. I love you forever.

Enjoying the Journey,

Debra

bebprov356.blogspot.com

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6--

© -- 2016, All Rights Reserved