My father would have been 62 years old today. He died of colon cancer in February 2007 at age 57.
my dad and me (age 10 months) on January 25th, 1980
My father had a difficult life. He certainly didn’t make it easy on himself, but there were a lot of external forces against him, too. He was old and bitter and falling apart by his 40s and I knew I would lose him young.
So I was not surprised that he approached death the way he did, with open arms eager to embrace the mystery, but was surprised by how prepared and matter of fact he was about the whole thing. That his life was ending was logical, all lives end, but he could make it easier for those he left behind.
In those last days, he taught me that the only true wealth we gather in this world is our memories of a life well and richly lived. I honoured my promise to him that I would make changes that would enrich my life and make it happier. The wealth of memories I have accumulated in the last three years would be enough to satisfy me for a dozen lifetimes.
Time has marched on since that bitter cold February morning and now I sit on this fifth birthday of his without him. Five birthdays. Four and a half years. I miss my father terribly, but I know that he would find satisfaction in seeing what I have made of my life since he died.
You wrote a beautiful tribute to your father, and he is surely watching over you and beaming with pride!
I feel much the same as you do, although I lost my dad in 1978 when he was just 68 years old. I’ve never stopped missing him, but I know he follows my life with interest, and is proud of me.
I’m sorry for your loss. I love what you did in response to it.
What a wonderful tribute! It’s very clear that he is still with you.
Thanks, ladies.
One of the things that struck me when I hit the road with my Quebec license plate was the extraordinary coincidence of the numbers on the plate: 2498.
24: the day he was born
49: the year he was born
8: the month he was born
So sorry for your loss, Rae, but he would have been (maybe is) very proud of you. My children were devastated when they lost their Dad, and they were older and had him for a longer period of time. You kept a lot of your Dad with you–sounds like he was quite a man. I know it doesn’t make it easier, but my thoughts and the thoughts of many others are with you.
My dad and I had a tough period, but, all in all, we were close for most of my life. I loved him very much and am so grateful I had time to prepare for his death and that I was with him when it happened.