Dad is Gone

It's been a month today since Dad died on March 30, 2011. He had been weaker and weaker, worn down by multiple afflictions of old age - almost deaf and blind, barely able to walk. His frustration was obvious at times, but he was usually stoic and accepting of his situation. But he was ready to be with the Lord - where he could hear four part harmony sung, see a glistening raindrop on a leaf, and walk briskly along a tree lined street.

We were blessed that he received expert care at the assisted living home where he lived out his final five years. The staff and private duty caregivers provided wonderful, caring support. They became like family. Dad could be stubborn and often private. He was focused on others. Accepting help for himself, especially in personal activities, was not easy. But he was grateful for the help as the realization of his limitations became evident. Caregivers remarked that he always thanked them for even the smallest act of help. They were grateful and often said that others they cared for rarely said thanks.

He lay quietly for several days at the end. Many of the staff and caregivers came in to see him on their own time or at the end of their shift. Most were on our list of those who wanted to know - day or night - when he passed away.

I think back to Dad's life in his own Bittersweet Woods. He was not an outdoor person in the usual sense of the word. But he enjoyed camping when we were kids. We literally saw America from the back of a Ford station wagon. That's where my interest in the outdoors was awakened. He loved working in the yard, plucking out weeds, pruning bushes, and mowing. And for most days for the 50 years running the jewelry store, he walked to work. His route took him along tree lined streets and the past the tranquil Mound Cemetery where he was laid to rest.

"Life goes on in Bittersweet Woods" is a phrase that I have used often. There is a rhythm of cycles and a continuity that goes with the natural world. Now the phrase has a deeper meaning and a reminder that there is continuity in the spiritual world as well.