Sad Goodbye...

This past week my brothers and I had a deep loss in our family...our dad.  Although, he was 88 years old, we just didn't expect him to go quite so soon.   He was my stepdad, but the only dad I ever had...since I was four years old.  He was the only grandpa my children ever knew.  Dad was such a nice man...quiet, intelligent, and wise.  Full of stories.  He owned his own business (a dry cleaning business) for almost four decades.  He hired me to work on Saturdays at the ripe old age of 12...paying me $4 for the day.  At that time (1964), I thought $4 was a small fortune..it allowed me to buy my Barbie doll clothes, my first small hand-held hair dryer, tickets for a Beatle's concert (the ticket was $4.50....I still have the stub), and Tiger-Beat magazines...the list could go on and on... Dad taught me a good work ethic, which I hope I had continued throughout my nursing career.

He left behind my two wonderful, younger brothers...who took such good care of him these past few months.  Not long before he passed...he kept telling my mom that someone was tapping him on his shoulder..his left shoulder...my mom was sitting with him on the right...not near his shoulder or left side. He repeated it several times......I have to believe that someone was gently guiding him home....easing his pain....putting his mind at ease...telling him it was time to go....he went peacefully that evening, with my brother at his side....God Bless you Dad...we'll miss you......