bla
My father-in-law Bob parented his 11 children, and dozens more. A loving advisor, he’d say, “Don’t burn your bridges” (before you screwed up), and “Oh, well” (after).
He defied mortality until, without warning, he accepted fate, soul packed, ready to go. When I spoon fed him ice chips, he smiled. “More?”
“No,” he whispered. “Gin and tonic.”
His family surrounded his bed, saying “I love you”, telling stories, and singing “Amen” (substituting “Oh Well”). Before his eyes shut, they twinkled. The sun does that too, a shimmer of color as it sets: “I’m not gone. Just on the other side.”
Beautiful story. Sounds like a kind soul. I love the way you put so much feeling in few words. I will be thinking about Bob today.
Thank you, River. Yes, he was a kind soul. Very.
So beautiful and so like him.
Thank you for sharing this bit of him with us Rebecca. He sounds like a wonderful man.
My father and I turned her over to avoid bed sores. She coughed and we looked at each other with fearful anticipation. “Should I go get the hospice manual!?” “No Dad, stay right here”. We watched her chest rise 3 more times and that was it. I felt Mom’s spirit fill the whole room. It was “wonderous”. And she is forever here.