Cathi what a beautiful memorial page you have dedicated to your Dad. I am sorry to hear about his passing. God Bless You and your family.

Awesome! And how handsome he truly was!

Cath, what a lovely tribute, and the music you chose is perfect. I love the beauty of the internet for allowing us to share such touching things as this.

Listening to that music and crying your eyes out is very therapeutic. Anything that helps the tears flow this soon after his death is probably a great way to grieve.

I recall thinking how quickly life began again after Mom's death. You'd like it to stop so you can grasp what happened, but it's probably best that life goes on as usual. Try to find time in your days to revel in his good life.

Well, what's your hair looking like these days?

Cathi, I'm sorry for the loss of your dad. You're so lucky you could be there with him when he passed. I lost my dad last summer (he died at 5:30 a.m. and we all thought he was getting better so no one was with him). I hear from friends who've been in the room when loved ones die that they feel a great sense of peace, even joy.

Thanks so much ladies. What a comfort it is to come here and read your kind words.

LOL Dotsie, I don't think I will ever get my hair done. My dad had pink eye when he passed and so my mom and sister-in-law got it too. My mom's is as bad as mine was and it was her bad eye (diabetes). But her doctor said it was pink eye. My sister-in-law said that is the final gift form her father-in-law, so it doesn't matter to her. So anyway, we can't get our hair done until it goes away.

DJ, the day before my dad passed, the man in the room next to him passed away. His sister told me later on, she had just left to go and get some comfortable clothes to stay with him over night. As soon as she left, he passed away. Her comment was, I think he did it on purpose so I wouldn't be upset. Perhaps your dad didn't want anyone upset and he let go when he did on purpose. At least that's my belief.

Thanks for the kindness dear sisters. Celtic...thank you and big hugs to you dear sister. I look forward to more conversations with you and I cannot wait to jump in the other thread. In the meantime, my sister-in-law is explaining to me the Muslem beliefs in the end of days.

I love all of you alot!!!

Love, Hugs, & Blessings,
Cathi

DJ, we were with Mom around the clock for days when she was dying. Her final day, the hospice nurse told us she couldn't beleive she was still alive. She had the teeniest space in one lung that was sustaining her. Her lungs were full of fluid.

She asked us to please leave Mom alone. She thought our touching and taling was forcing Mom to live on, though she was hardly capable. She told us to all stay out of the room. Every hour, one of us was to go in and give her the dropper of morphine in the corner of her mouth and say nothing, nor touch her. Then leave.

We tooks turns every hour. It was St. Patrick's Day. We'd finished our corned beef and cabbage. It was the 7 o'clock hour and my turn to go in. When I entered the room there was this tremendous silence. She was no longer laboring to breathe. My heart began racing and I ran out to tell everyone that Mom had passed. Dad couldn't beleive it so he went in alone, and sure enough. He came out and said it was so.

I was touched that I was the one who discovered it. My youngest sister who had just left to go to my home to shower and cahnge and visit with Ross, the kids, and other nieces and nephews who were camping out at our home since it was so close by, she was touched becaused because Mom waited for her to leave.

It's interesting. I share this because somehow, all of us found peace with Mom's dying. Heartwarming, isn't it?

I believe God orchestrated the whole thing.

DJ, for some reason, it's as God planned. Your dad probably didn't want any attention and willed to go silently. Maybe?

Cath, how is everyone holding up?

I hope it is okay to put this here. I was contacted by someone whose father had spent his last days recently in a local Hospice. She said she noticed that their books, what few they had, were worn and old. She said if I or anyone I knew had books to donate she would pick them up. That was a coincidence because I had recently boxed up all my books, some never even opened and was going to sell them on www.Half.com

Three weeks went by, no one showed up so I looked up the address of the Hospice in question, called them and they said, they would love some books.

Well if you could have seen the commotion they made over those two boxes of books, it was amazing. I am so glad I took them in. I had some poetry books, Romance novels, many Mystery novels and some books containing short stories so when reading to a patient they could finish the whole story before they got tired.

This brings me to the reason for this post. Have any books, old or new ones you want to get rid of? Find the local hospice and donate them. Some of these families sit there for weeks just waiting for the inevitable and having a good read would be very helpful.

Chatty, what a beautiful post about sharing. I applaud you first for doing this, and second for letting us know what WE can do to help. You are just the best!

Dotsie, we are doing alright. I just feel bad for mom, it's been a week now and I am worried about her for after I leave.

Anyway, Chatty that is a great idea. Toys and games would be another item, children are often there too. Thanks for the suggestion. We already made it clear in dad's obituary (in the Washington Times) instead of flowers to donate to the hopice he stayed at.

I agree with the timing of how people go and who is around when it happens. I am just glad I was there, my issue was for him to go peacefully. I was so worried about that and God made sure I saw him go in peace!

Love,
Cathi

Cathi, what a lovely tribute your memorial page is. I could feel the love flowing from everyone who was touched by your Dad.