HJFinAZ: 13 years ago my dad passed away. He had a stroke on Friday that put him in the hospital. Another one on Sunday, the final one came Wednesday evening.
I spoke with dad on Sunday, I was leaving Reno, driving back to the Chicago area on business, told him I would probably be there sometime Wednesday. Dad said he was not sure he could "hang on", I told him it was OK. I also told him my daughter and his great grand daughter (6 months old) would be on the Red-Eye out of Los Angles Tuesday night and they would be at the hospital Wednesday morning.
Dad got to see his Great Grand Daughter for the first time and people said the look on his face was worth a million bucks. Mom called my company Thursday morning and left a message for me to call her, I had only made it to Des Moines, IA at the time. Moms words were simply "do not go to the hospital"..
Upon returning home, I called Charlie. He is a mentor of sorts and now 90 years old. I let Charlie know how angry I was that dad has passed. I told Charlie of dads workshop in his garage, how he so enjoyed his wood working and his garden of nearly one acre. I also told Charlie that for the past 3 years dad could do little but sit in his recliner, drink coffee and watch TV.
Charlie words to me were, "pretty selfish little bastard aren't you? Know your dad is in a better place, you are angry he is not here for you. Where have you been the last three years of his life?"
I was busy working and making money, to busy to go spend my Fathers final years with him. "Charlie" is a very wise man.
yes he is a wise man, trying to teach you something sir, i had to learn the very same lesson the hard way,i had a heart attack and was brought back, the lesson is simple, do not waste your life, show the ones you love, that you do love them.
My experience with death..: click here to read the entire thread »