We did not get any hospice. We got a hospital bed, with motors, to help manage him. I've never watched someone slowly leave, but that's what happened. He was losing memory. Then, he'd burst out singing songs from when he was in grade school. I'd never heard Coke-a-cola jingles, from the days when soft drinks were a nickel. Or, the killer of them all "I'm goin' down to Rio, before I get old", as we walked him someplace. Then, "old man river" would burst forth, like a bird on a limb. It was just old latent memories, from when he was a kid.?ÿ
Then, he's singing "Up from the grave he arose", in full throated intensity. Then, he's pooped his long johns, and mad as it falls out the leg. And he blames the dog, and launches into a tirade about how that dog should stay outside. He could never believe it was him!
He never got below about 160 lbs. His bones were heavy. Active people, who are active most of their lives tend to retain bone mass, and don't break bones easy.?ÿ
He once drove his Chevy venture mini van to the shop, to get a door handle... Oops, I gotta go... Milk the cow. Finish this later
Thank you for sharing this with us, Nate. ?ÿIt is an act of love for you to prepare those of us who have not yet been down this part of the path just by sharing your stories. ?ÿIt is also an act of love to your Dad, to remember.
Nate,
I lost my dad in 2012 at the age of 94 and still miss him very much, as you say it was hard watching someone that had always been your rock to go down slowly.?ÿ My condolences to you and your family and enjoy the good memories.
Ed
Condolences Nate. Typically in an obituary, is added, "He is survived by so many grandchildren and even great grandchildren by now." It has been a long time since a family update.
As a surveyor it would be appropriate to establish a geodetic monument on his tombstone. Or you could permanently affix a Locus to it. And please publish the coordinates.
Paul in PA
Nate,
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute to your Dad and your experience with his last years.?ÿ Gob bless you, your Mom and rest of your family.
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Larry
I'm sorry for your loss Nate. Remember he will never really be gone as long as he lives on in the hearts of his family. His blessings are many and may they carry on through you and your family for a very long time to come.?ÿ
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Memories are strange things as they come to you at some of the oddest times.?ÿ Not long ago I needed to add a few fence staples into some posts in a fence built by my Granddad long before I was born and I said out loud, "Granddad, why did you only put three wires on this fence??ÿ Your cows must have been terribly short."?ÿ I have honored him by never replacing or adding wire to that fence.?ÿ Besides, it is rare to have an escapee that went through, over or under.
Respects and condolonces, Nate. I am sorry to hear that.
Sorry about your dad Nate; that brought a tear to my eye...
Ok, about 2 yrs ago, dad drove his Chevy venture minivan to the shop. He wanted a door handle replaced. They told him ??bring it back Wednesday at 10:00, as we??re busy today.?
He said ok. As he turned to leave, he said, when did you say bring it? ??Wednesday at 10:00. ?? he said ok.?ÿ
They said would you like us to write it down for you? He said No, that won??t be necessary. As he walked to his car, he said over his shoulder ?ÿ??I??ll have you know I have all my faculties intact?! Then, as he opened his car door, he said, ??when did you say bring it in??. They said ??Wednesday at 10:00, would you like us to write it down?? NO! He said, ??I??ve got all my faculties!? As he got in and drove off ?ÿ
Dad was a ??one of a kind? ?ÿ
in Church, he??d say, ??The main thing is the pre-emenience of The Lord Jesus Christ, and we??ve got to remember to keep him in first place!?
He??d embarrass mom, by various means.?ÿ
He was a health nut, in uncommon ways. Drinking soft drinks was a great sin in his book. ??That stuff is just pure poison ?? he??d say.
Coffee would put him to sleep.
We are all looking foreword to seeing him again. Thanks everyone for your kind words.?ÿ
We??re still adjusting to him being gone. This story telling helps me adjust to it.
Nate
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Dad was a ??one of a kind?
Sounds like my dad. ?ÿ;-)
..We??re still adjusting to him being gone. This story telling helps me adjust to it.
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It took you that long to milk? 😉
My father was a stern man with peculiar ways. I never spoke a word about my him to anyone while he was alive, not even my brothers or sister.?ÿ We all just understood what he was like.
I guess he had been gone about a year and all of us kids were over at our mother's house for a holiday.?ÿ My mother wanted me to move a picture hanging on the wall.?ÿ I took it down and realized it had been hanging on a 16 penny nail that had shattered the plaster when it was nailed in.?ÿ I asked my mother if Pops had driven that nail.
"Lord yes" she said, "That man never did anything gentle in his life".?ÿ?ÿNone of us kids knew what to say.?ÿ Nobody had ever spoken critically of him.?ÿ My mother started laughing and had another story about him opening a jar of pickles with a 16" pipe wrench.
We spent 'til dark sharing stories about him and his peculiar ways.?ÿ My cheeks hurt from laughing along with everybody else.?ÿ Laughing about our memories of him and his ways helped us all heal the loss of someone we loved.?ÿ Since then my father has been a great addition to the stories I tell.?ÿ It's a great way to adjust to someone's absence.?ÿ
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We don't sorrow. It was the best day of his life.
Deepest Condolences and fantastic memories shared!
This statement says volumes of who and how he is was and will continue to be within you and yours.
Thank you for sharing Nate.
Hard losing your dad. Wish I had met him & hoping to meet you F2F this life. It's like the race to the courthouse. All those grandkids. Nate for Surveyor General!
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Dad was very worried about getting to the train on time. Or that the tickets would be to the wrong destination and we would all have to get off the train. It's all OK dad. I checked the papers.
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Parents and grandparents all bring along some entertaining sayings or practices that don't seem special until they are gone.?ÿ When I was a youngster and I asked Dad, "Why?" about something his typical response was "cat fur to make little kitten britches".?ÿ Frequently, he shortened that to "cat fur".?ÿ Sometimes when we had stopped at a neighbor's house and had spent too much chatting he would announce, "Well, we better get to navigatin' ".?ÿ If he said he was going to the office that meant he was headed to the outhouse.?ÿ Instead of asking if you had an interesting day at school he would say, "Did the teacher give you a lickin' today?"?ÿ Only twice was the answer, "Yes."
My dad would sometimes whistle, but never very tunefully. If you asked him what he was whistling, he would always answer, "the tune the old cow died on."?ÿ Google tells me there was a 78 rpm record with that title, but I've never heard it.
Sorry for your loss Nate, it sounds like he lived a very full life.
Our Condolences to your family as you grieve you dad and grandpa. Good days to reflect on steadfast hope and the author and finisher of our faith.