Just as I thought life had finally turned sweet...I got another batch of this sour fruit thrown at me!
And I just don't know what to do with it...
Very sadly...I lost another one...a man who meant the world to me. My Dad! Thankfully he died in his sleep and did not appear to have suffered. We all agree that's a blessing, but it doesn't make the loss any less bitter. One minute he was here...and the next minute...gone!
FOREVER!
I just can't believe I'll never see him again...at least not on this earth.
Pop, as my boys named him, was an amazing man!! He never stopped learning. The word IMPOSSIBLE was not in his vocabulary. He already knew...or took it upon himself to learn...how to do, make, fix, or improve nearly everything!! In fact, he left behind a tall stack of books that he had planned to read. It's quite an assortment of everything from "do it yourselfers," to political commentary, to history books of both ancient and modern times.
That was my Pop! He was always reading, always learning, always improving, and he was always on the go!
I have to say; over the years I was delighted to see that a few of Pop's characteristics had rubbed off on me. He was a guy who filled his life with people and activities. Just as I do!! And he had made his life-long career at FAA, just as I am doing. It was nice to have someone at home to talk with who understood my job. In fact, we both thrived on our moments together "talking shop." I'm sure my Mom and siblings were like, "Oh boy, here we go again, we have to listen to all this FAA stuff and try to decipher all those crazy acronyms!" But, Pop was the one person in my family who really understood my work, its unique language and all it entails.
God, I miss him!
My coping with this new set back is to keep on moving and to try not to sit still too long. Just as my Pop would do. And, I am trying to be with my Mom as much as I possibly can, because I know too well the adjustment it is for her. I am surrounding myself with my family and as always...
I continue to count my blessings!
Each day, I remind myself how lucky I am to have had a GREAT father throughout my life. I am blessed to have been fabulously close with him. He was always there for me, ready to help at a moment's notice. And I leaned on him for his sound and thoughtful advice; his values and morals have helped guide my path.
My Pop had a great sense of humor and spirit and genuinely cared about people. He lived a life of community service and made a lasting impression on others as he did on me. He was my biggest fan, my biggest supporter and he loved me unconditionally. God Bless him!
No wonder I miss him so...
