Home› All Encompassing Trip

I lost my father today

bigbadbillbigbadbill Posts: 1,758
edited February 2009 in All Encompassing Trip
My father passed away just after noon today. He had congestive heart failure for several years, and had caught pneumonia around a year ago. For the remainder of 2008, his health had been deteriorating, but he did manage to salvage enough strength to attend his first granddaughter's wedding in November. He was so happy during that night. But after the wedding, his condition worsened to the point where we had in-home hospice care for him. He didn't want to go out in a nursing home or hospital, where he would have been ignored most of the day. He went out on his own terms, which makes me so happy and relieved. He was 82. I love you, dad.




I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.




---Henry Van Dyke
11/6/95, 11/18/97, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/28/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/6/06, 7/7/06, 7/9/06, 7/10/06, 7/13/06, 7/15/06, 7/16/06, 7/18/06, 10/21/06, 4/10/08, 4/13/08, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09
Post edited by Unknown User on
«1

Comments

  • SPEEDY MCCREADYSPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 25,767
    i am sorry for your loss
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    i'm so sorry bill...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwMdO3HK_ws
  • Beck..Beck.. Posts: 535
    Im sorry for your loss, My deepest sympathy.
  • pjtradekingpjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    very sorry, bro...:-(
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
  • Steve DunneSteve Dunne Posts: 4,965
    shit man. sorry for this to happen. may peace find you, your family, and his soul.

    (going to pour a drink in his honor, and kiss my son)

    peace.

    sd
    I love to turn you on
  • Sian-of-the-deadSian-of-the-dead Posts: 8,963
    I'm so sorry for your loss :(
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • CHANGEinWAVESCHANGEinWAVES Posts: 10,169
    I'm am very sorry to hear this, take comfort in the memories and the love he gave you.
    "I'm not present, I'm a drug that makes you dream"
  • battan1120battan1120 Posts: 310
    You will be in our prayers tonight
    The bus came by and I got on!!!!!
  • pinot768pinot768 Posts: 295
    I am sorry for your loss. I must say, however, that the Van Dyke quote is amazing. I love the perspective it gives. May it comfort you and your family in the coming days as you celebrate your father's life and mourn his passing.
    "I was born, and I know that I'll die...the in-between is mine."
  • Who PrincessWho Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    I'm very sorry. You and your family have my deepest sympathy.
    I hope you will find comfort in your memories and knowing that he will always be part of you.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • electronblueelectronblue Posts: 3,460
    very sad news to hear. my thoughts are with you
    blessings
    ********************************
    "Forgive every being,
    the bad feelings 
    it's just me"


  • pureocpureoc Posts: 2,383
    Sorry to hear of you loss.
    Alpine Valley 6/26/98, Alpine Valley 10/8/00, Champaign 4/23/03, Chicago 6/18/03, Alpine Valley 6/21/03, Grand Rapids 10/3/04
    Chicago 5/16/06, Chicago 5/17/06, Grand Rapids 5/19/06
    Milwaukee 6/29/06, Milwaukee 6/30/06, Lollapalooza 8/5/07
    Eddie Solo Milwaukee 8/19/08, Toronto 8/21/09, Chicago 8/23/09
    Chicago 8/24/09, Indianapolis 5/7/10, Ed Chicago 6/29/11, Alpine Valley 9/3/11 and 9/4/11, Wrigley 7/19/13, Moline 10/18/14, Milwaukee 10/20/14
  • Sprunkn7Sprunkn7 Posts: 5,286
    I'm in the same situation. My dad is 82 and has had CHF for a while now. He had a triple by pass in the late 90's but things are breaking down and the heart is so damaged. Watching a parent deteriorate is so difficult. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Thank you fellow 10 clubber for saving my ass....again!!!
  • CROJAM95CROJAM95 Posts: 9,984
    Deepest condolences to u and your family


    I lost my Dad in late '07....and he's always on my mind, though in time the hurt becomes more managable...and u catch yourself smiling due to all the memories


    Family, friends, and a little PJ go a long way

    Take Care
  • patrickredeyespatrickredeyes Posts: 8,834
    I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
  • rockpantsrockpants BC Posts: 838
    Terribly sorry to hear about your Father's passing. My best to you and your family. Take good care.
  • FifthelementFifthelement Lotusland Posts: 6,963
    I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts. Hugs and good vibes coming your way.
    Thank you for the quote. It's beautiful. So thought provoking and true.
    "What the CANUCK happened?!? - Esquimalt Barber Shop
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    Sorry to hear that, my condolences.
    Love the poem you posted.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    bigbadbill wrote:
    I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

    Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

    "Gone where?"

    Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

    Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

    And that is dying.




    ---Henry Van Dyke

    I like this.

    Stay strong!
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    You and your family have my blessings. Take care and stay strong.
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    I'm so very sorry for your loss!! :(
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • QuarterToTenQuarterToTen Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 3,642
    my deepest sympathy
    Nice shirt.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,484
    sorry to hear about your loss...
    take comfort in your memories.
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • bigbadbillbigbadbill Posts: 1,758
    Today, the 22nd, is the day in 1973, when my dad proposed to my mom in the parking lot of the neighborhood Safeway. They were married about three weeks later on March 18th. They almost reached their 36th wedding anniversary.
    11/6/95, 11/18/97, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/28/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/6/06, 7/7/06, 7/9/06, 7/10/06, 7/13/06, 7/15/06, 7/16/06, 7/18/06, 10/21/06, 4/10/08, 4/13/08, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    I am sorry for your loss.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • CROJAM95CROJAM95 Posts: 9,984
    bigbadbill wrote:
    Today, the 22nd, is the day in 1973, when my dad proposed to my mom in the parking lot of the neighborhood Safeway. They were married about three weeks later on March 18th. They almost reached their 36th wedding anniversary.



    What would have been my parents 30th anniversary was a few weeks ago....tough day for my Mom :cry:


    I'm sorry to hear about this, no doubt its tough
  • 1inhiding1inhiding Posts: 14
    Sorry for your loss!
  • milarsomilarso Posts: 1,280
    My thoughts go out to you.
    Hang in there. Things will get better.
    "The dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' her easy for all us sinners."
  • LizardLizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    Sorry for your loss.

    Take care.....
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • PJaddictedPJaddicted Posts: 1,432
    I am truly sorry for your loss. My dad passed away 4 years ago at the age of 70, and my FIL passed 2 months ago at 72. Nothing makes it easy, losing a parent is very hard. You will never stop missing him. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers. :(

    BTW...my Dad's nickname was BIG BAD BILL!!! :D
    ~*LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH*~

    *May the Peace of the Wilderness be with YOU*

    He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
    — Unknown
Sign In or Register to comment.