I think I discovered why my Dad has been on my mind so much lately.
I received a Facebook friend request from a high school friend. I am not a fan of Facebook (fb) but I accepted his request assuming, like most fb stuff goes with me, that was the end of it. I then got a message from him with an email address and asking me the dreaded question, "how is your family?" This is generally translated as, "how are your Mom and Dad, husband and kids?" Most everyone knew and loved my parents and at 45 they assume I have a husband and kids. Generally when I message back that Mom, Dad and Husband have all passed and I have no kids I don't hear from them again. I understand, people just don't know what to say and I am fine with it. Instead of my normal everyone is dead message, I sent an email with basic generalities...no kids, I live in Arizona...blah, blah, blah. To my surprise I got an email back telling me about his kids, wife etc. and asking me more about what I have been up to. I replied with the everyone is dead email but with a few more details and I just knew for sure that would be the end of this reunion. NOT!! He emailed me back and said some really moving things about my Dad.
My Dad was a difficult man to get along with to say the least. I cut ties with him as an adult because we just didn't see eye to eye on anything. It was TJ who encouraged me to reconnect with my Dad and with much prodding I did. I saw him for the first time in years when TJ and I went to my brother's wedding in Las Vegas. He and TJ became very good buddies and my Dad moved to Arizona to live his last couple of years close to TJ and I. He was at our house every night for dinner and he spent time watching TJ build stuff. My Dad apologized to me for all the bad stuff and we got to say "I Love You" to each other. When he became ill he pleaded with TJ and I to not let him die in a hospital and not to stick him in one of our back bedrooms all alone. TJ rearranged our living room to accomodate a hospital bed and with the help of hospice we brought him home to spend his last hours. He lasted less than 24 hours at our home but the last thing he said to me was, "Where the hell am I?" I said to him, "You are home Dad, you are with TJ & I." He passed away the next morning at home, just what he wanted.
Here are some excerpts from our emails when my friend spoke of my Dad:
I thought your Dad was quite a character. I always got the feeling that you and him did not see eye to eye on several things. I always wanted to talk to him after I joined the service but I always missed him and never knew where he lived after the house on the lake sold. Your Dad treated me well and I never forget people who were nice to me when I was a young man.
I am glad that you and Rex reconciled, I am sure you would have had great regrets had you not done so. Your Dad seemed like a well traveled person who had been around a bit and he always had some stories that mad me laugh. I think he thought I was a bit crazy at times and probably useless at other times. He wanted young people to do the right thing and I knew it by the way he took time to tell me stuff. He had probably made a lot of the same mistakes so he didn’t see the need for anyone else to repeat them.
Reading these kind words about my Dad made me cry. A lot of people can justifiably say lots of bad things about my Dad but the above words show that he did make a good impression on some people. He was my Dad, the only one I had, and I loved him regardless of his past.
When you measure someone's worth, put the tape around the heart instead of the head ~ Covey
Lovely post Sandy! I was estranged from my mother in my adult years before she died. It wasn't that we didn't see eye to eye. She was a chronic alcoholic and over the counter drug addict. I was in the military and had kids and just couldn't deal with her. She died at 52 and we never reconciled before she died. I had some regrets, but eventually dealt with my feelings. I did hear from others, as you did, who loved her and even respected her. I'm glad someone did, as I was unable to.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing you story.
Terri
That's a lovely post, Sandy. I feel so sorry for those who have difficult relationships with a parent. Thankfully that has never happened to me although in recent times my mother has been a bit difficult. I guess it's an old age and living alone thing which possibly will come to me some day.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you reconciled with your dad and could offer him a home in the end.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I would have been comforted by the kind things an old friend would have had to say. I hope you find peace in this.
ReplyDeleteHi again Sandy,
ReplyDeleteI've just passed an award on to you. Hope you don't mind.
http://paulinespaddock.blogspot.com/
visiting from Pauline's The Paddock. what a lovely memory of your Dad. there was a reason the one from FB showed up in your life.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was difficult too, but now, looking back, I see all the good in him. This was a beautiful tribute both to your dad and to TJ.--Inger
ReplyDeleteI lost my dad a few years ago, quite unexpectedly and way too soon. I found that people were either so kind and willing to share memories and allow me to talk about my grief or they just didn't acknowledge it, for whatever reason. I think those people are the ones who've never experienced loss, who don't understand how important is to talk about those people who took up such a big part of your life and now are gone.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your friend shared such kind words about your dad. And what a tribute to your husband, to be the one who brought you and your dad back together.
Take care, my friend.
Oh, Sandy, that is so wonderful that your old friend took the time to share those memories and feelings about your Dad with you. I got teary reading your post.
ReplyDeleteWow, what memories. I would've read that email over and over.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment about Angel. I know your dog must miss his daddy so much. Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you this morning.--Inger
ReplyDelete