Moment in Time: Dad, Culver's and the Number 4
A year ago today, Dad died.
Where did that year go? I recall a year ago that Mom, Mary and I were spending lots of time with him at the nursing home in Columbus. The siblings Paul and Ruth were on either coast trying to decide what to do. I was with him as he passed on. It was sad, but I have no regrets for him or us. He lived a full life and he lived it well. He was a good man. As Ruth alluded to in her blog, little nuances, little memories blip in and out. Something I see or do reminds me of him. I may shed a tear or I may laugh. And above all, I am grateful he was my dad.
The nurses at the hospital and those affiliated with Hospice told us, almost exactly, what to expect. I recall that someone asked me how long Dad would live. I said that he would make it at least until the 4th of July. When questioned about this, I said that his dad was born on July 4. And....4th of July was a huge thing in Columbus. Mary and I spent a lot of time at Culver's sharing memories and lunches as we sat with Dad in his final days and hours. And...Dad was born on May 4. I believe in many cultures that the number 4 is a number of completion. Dad lived a complete and wonderful life.
Today, I actually took lunch and went to Culver's. Memories flooded back of the time with Mary and what we were doing a year ago. And...the number they gave me for my meal was the number 4.
In a few weeks, I will venture back to Manistique, MI with Mom. She asked me the other day if I would have time to take her up there. I knew last year that this would be a yearly trek for her. It will be fun to go up there with her and to let her reminisce and visit Dad's grave.
What has happened in the past year? Many things. It's so hard to believe that he's been gone a year....but as he always said, "the only thing constant in life is change." Life has changed for all of us because he's no longer here to share his wit, his humor and his stories with us. However, those stories were deeply ingrained in us and he still teaches us as we move on.
Sleep well, Dad.
You are missed and greatly loved.
Where did that year go? I recall a year ago that Mom, Mary and I were spending lots of time with him at the nursing home in Columbus. The siblings Paul and Ruth were on either coast trying to decide what to do. I was with him as he passed on. It was sad, but I have no regrets for him or us. He lived a full life and he lived it well. He was a good man. As Ruth alluded to in her blog, little nuances, little memories blip in and out. Something I see or do reminds me of him. I may shed a tear or I may laugh. And above all, I am grateful he was my dad.
The nurses at the hospital and those affiliated with Hospice told us, almost exactly, what to expect. I recall that someone asked me how long Dad would live. I said that he would make it at least until the 4th of July. When questioned about this, I said that his dad was born on July 4. And....4th of July was a huge thing in Columbus. Mary and I spent a lot of time at Culver's sharing memories and lunches as we sat with Dad in his final days and hours. And...Dad was born on May 4. I believe in many cultures that the number 4 is a number of completion. Dad lived a complete and wonderful life.
Today, I actually took lunch and went to Culver's. Memories flooded back of the time with Mary and what we were doing a year ago. And...the number they gave me for my meal was the number 4.
In a few weeks, I will venture back to Manistique, MI with Mom. She asked me the other day if I would have time to take her up there. I knew last year that this would be a yearly trek for her. It will be fun to go up there with her and to let her reminisce and visit Dad's grave.
What has happened in the past year? Many things. It's so hard to believe that he's been gone a year....but as he always said, "the only thing constant in life is change." Life has changed for all of us because he's no longer here to share his wit, his humor and his stories with us. However, those stories were deeply ingrained in us and he still teaches us as we move on.
Sleep well, Dad.
You are missed and greatly loved.
posted by Peggy Gero DaValt at Tuesday, July 03, 2007
2 Comments:
What a wonderful tribute to Dad. He is greatly missed by all, especially me.
Mom
that was cool, peg....i got chills when i read that you got the number 4 at culvers....weird...
yeah i remember those culver runs....seems like forever ago and yet only yesterday...
i was at a basketball game of stef's yesterday and remembered that it was a year ago. a smile washed over my face cuz i know where dad is and i know he's living it well...
love ya,
mar
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