Some personal news. I'm ok here and don’t need a thing, but I’m sorry to let you know some sad news that my Dad died yesterday.
He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called “spindle cell” a couple of weeks ago and it spread to his lungs. The upside is he did not suffer a long time. He just became weaker and would get short of breath. Last week it began to progress rapidly, and they brought hospice care in.
He was 100% good mentally all the way up to the end and understood and accepted how this would go. He died peacefully at home.Late last week, I was fortunate to be able to clearly let him know how much I love and appreciate some of the things he’s done for me and my family. It was three pages of some of the things I hoped he already knew. Being able to share that with him and leave a written copy was a true gift. He fully understood and appreciated what I was able to tell him. And it was very good.
An example of him being good mentally last week was when I asked if I could read to him the list of things I was thankful for, he said, "Of course.".
I had a hard time starting and was choked up. He joked, "You're not doing this very good".
That was about as critical a thing as he ever said to me. That's just how he was. An encourager.
He had a very strong faith, and he was ready to go. He told me he was much more fearful of this dragging out a long time than he was afraid of dying. He’s reunited with my little brother Rich today and his beloved Mother and his Father he barely knew as he died when my Dad was just a boy. I can only imagine the joy.
I’m crushed to not have him here. I knew him and loved him longer than any other person on Earth. But one of the things I told him was if I could draw up a script for a fantastic story with a father and son, I couldn't do better than the story we actually lived out together.
So while I'm sad. I’m grateful. I was able to tell him how much of who I am and all the good things I'm able to do and have are connected to him. I learned so much from him and received so much opportunity from him. I knew without a doubt that he was always "for me". So I'm forever thankful. What a gift.
We're not ready for a memorial service this week but we’ll try to get that set for a future date soon.