08-24-2006
|
#1 (permalink) |
|
aņejo
 Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 18,808
|
Happy Birthday Dad!
August 24th was my father's birthday. He died of Leukemia on January 28, 2003, ten weeks after his diagnosis. He spent much of that time preparing us to take care of things, especially my Mom, in his absence.
To give you some background, my father retired in 1971 from the U.S. Navy after having served our country faithfully for 23 years. He had recently celebrated his 52nd wedding anniversary with my mom. Together, they set a wonderful example of true love and commitment. My father's greatest loves were for his family and his country. I miss him terribly, yet feel him near me in so many ways. I wanted to take a moment to share with you what my sister wrote the day he died, and what she read at his funeral, before he received his 21 Gun Salute. Don't EVER think that you don't have an impact on those around you! Here's to remembering and honoring all good Dads! If You Knew Dad....(written by my sister Peggy, felt by all who knew him!) If you knew our father, then you knew a family man; who taught us by example how to be the best we can. He valued family closeness and instilled a sense of pride; he taught the measure of a man is found in what's inside. He taught us to be prompt (and boy, look out if we were late!), and believed that things we wanted were much better if we wait. He showed us that commitments mean you always keep your word. His marriage was, by far, the sweetest story every heard! And, oh, how he adored our mom - mere jewels would not suffice! He nursed her back to health and planted her a paradise. And in this growing garden that is nurtured from above, he symbolized the beauty of his own unending love. Yes, if you knew our father then you knew a Navy chief, who believed in this great country with a pride beyond belief. He loved the country's symbols, patriotic through and through; from his eagles to "Old Glory." How he loved red, white, and blue! What a journey we have traveled with this man we hold so dear; what a bittersweet reunion as we hold our family near. Oh, yes, we're going to miss him, but feel honored as we cry. He not only showed us how to live, he showed us how to die. But even if you never knew the man we honor here, it's possible you'll find him in the places we hold dear. We find him in the palm trees, and in his children's eyes. We see him when the sun comes up and in the Florida skies. We hear him when the music plays "I'm in the Mood for Love." We feel him when we pet old "Chief" and see flags wave above. Dad's love is all around us as we laugh, and love, and grieve. And he'll meet us with his garden when our time has come to leave. So look around and know for sure he's here with us today. For those who knew our father know, he's never far away. Last edited by Jacko; 08-24-2006 at 08:07 AM.. |
|
    
|
| register to remove these adverts | |
|
08-24-2006
|
#4 (permalink) |
|
aņejo
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 18,764
 |
That's beautiful, Jacko..... how fortunate you are to have had such a wonderful father. He was a true gift to you, wasn't he??!!
 Yesterday was the 9 year anniversary of my mother's passing, so my mind has been on her these past few days (more than normal), so this has really hit home with me (and my father would have turned 85 on August 11th but we lost him 22 months after mom). They may be gone, but their love and influence lives on.... in us and in the lives we touch (and also influence) every day. When you hear about the bad parents out there in the world, it makes you know even more how darn lucky we are that we had such great parents in our lives. Who knows who we'd be or where we'd be if it weren't for them???? |
|
|
|
|
08-24-2006
|
#7 (permalink) |
|
Hillbilly Chica
 Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 1,896
  |
What a loving and poetic reflection for you dad. I, too, lost a father to cancer. It was very painful to watch him plan his funeral and prepare my mom for his death. As he grew more weak and began to take more morphine for the pain, he would often tell my mom things that he kept inside and had never shared. Some of them funny,"Check all of the pockets of my clothes before you give them away and always check paper bags...especially the ones in my closet" (she later found them full of almost $500 that he had hidden) and some so very sad (like what really happened to my parent's favorite dog...wild dogs attacked and killed him). But you know what? ALthough that was a very difficult time for our family, I would not change a thing about it. It gave us the time we needed to say goodbye to our Big Daddy and for that, I'll always be thankful.
|
|
|
|
|
08-24-2006
|
#8 (permalink) |
|
aņejo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 15,278
|
Jacko - thanks so much for sharing. In remembering your father and living the values he taught you growing up, you will always keep him in your heart. We so often take our family memebers and friends for granted. Thank you for the reminder.
(A reminder to go home and hug my Dad and bake him some brownies) |
|
|
|
08-24-2006
|
#10 (permalink) |
|
life=playa
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 797
|
Jacko...what a loving tribute to your Father. I know he would be so proud. I too am one so fortunate to have a loving and devoted Dad, and your remembrance of your Dad helps to remind me not to take anything for granted and to cherish each and every day with your loved ones. Thank you, Jacko. And Happy Birthday to your Dad...thoughts are with you today!
|
|
|
|
|
08-24-2006
|
#11 (permalink) |
|
aņejo
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Left Coast...So Cal
Posts: 9,179
|
What a beautiful tribute to your father.
It is truly wonderful when someone like him can influence so many people by his inspiring words, actions, and deeds. He has inspired me today too, through you. Because of that he lives on... ((HUGS)) |
|
|
|
|
08-24-2006
|
#14 (permalink) |
|
none
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,169
|
Wow, Jack, what a wonderful tribute. As Cuff said, seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and from what I know of you both on this board and in speaking with you, it seems that you follow in his footsteps on many counts of this wonderful 'speech'. It is such a wonderful gift when a parent can teach their children their own great qualities (while trying hard to leave the bad ones behind
 ) , and I'm sure he was very proud to see his own great qualities in his son before he passed.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Rate This Thread | |
|
|
home | forum | multiMedia | read more | directory | trip planning | real estate
