Family

The last few months for me have taught me a lot about family.  I don't want to imply anything negative because in fact the last few months have taught me that family is so much more than just the people who share the same genes.

This really hit home after October 11th.  My father had just celebrated his 89th birthday,  my Mom's birthday was that weekend.  Dad was waking into the kitchen when he fell.  This was nothing like a call he had a few months back but the effects certainly were much worse.  The ambulance came and took him to the hospital where they determined he had broken his hip and would need replacement surgery.  My Dad has been a strong man over his 89 years battling breathing challenges,  cancer and the call earlier the year but this was a lot.  My mom was worried as was I. That weekend they did the surgery and the first few days were very much touch and go.

My mom cannot drive and my sister has not been able to drive for the last few months so they relied on others to get them to and from the hospital. Mom never had a problem there as family stood up to help.  And not just our blood relatives.  Her neighbors,  her church family and everyone in between stood up to help.  Whether mom need a ride to the hospital or home or my sister a ride to a doctor's appointment someone was there for them.  Mom had people offering to take her out to eat so they did not have to worry about coming and had lots of people bring all kinds of home cooked food to make sure they ate well.  These same people made sure to stop by the hospital to see how dad was doing and to make sure mom and my sister were comfortable and had someone to talk to. 

For four weeks our very extended family,  friends, neighbors and church family looked after things. On November 7th a new level of even greater caring began when my father passed away.

The next few days were hectic but also reaffirmed my belief that family is so much more than blood.  There were a lot of dad's and mom's family that were looking age things including my mom and sister but also a lot of family friends picking us up at the airport,  making dinner for mom and coming to celebrate dad's life.  There were people from his church,  old family friends and people that had worked with dad starting 50 years ago.  The stories are great to hear and just reaffirmed my belief that my dad was a very strong man with great values.  He taught others, as well as myself,  the idea that hard honest work is a great thing and that song the right thing is always important.  Those ideas so be with me forever ...

As well as the memories of my father.  I know my mom and sister will miss him and I know I will as well.

I love you Dad and I hope right now you are resting well