Last week my dad passed away after almost 8 weeks of being the in the hospital, rehab and finally hospice. As hard as it was on us, it comforts us to know he is no longer in pain and he is Quick Stepping his arse in the great beyond. We will all miss my dad, if for no other reason, than his quick one liners, or his hilarious quotes. I tell my 19 year old son, who wants to be on SNL one day, that grandpa has given him many good characters to share with the rest of the world. My dad was far from perfect, and like all of us, he was a good person at heart. But in my family if you didn't have a thick skin, life sucked for you. None of us give you a break, even down to my 14 year old son, it's a tough world out there, we get you ready.
My dad taught me a lot of good things and not so 'shareable' things. At the service my mum and sister bravely got up and spoke, I could not. I knew I would try to relate a story and I would crumble, and I'm not big into letting my emotions show. Those of you who know me are taken aback, I know. lol...The other reason I did not speak was I really had no suitable stories. I had some laugh your freaking arse off stories, but I feared the wrath of my mum if I shared those in a church. My sister got up and spoke of what dad meant to her, and how as a daughter what he meant to both of us. I couldn't have done any better. And the best part for Deb? She not only sounded good, but she looked good, and really, isn't that the important thing? She, like my dad, never met a mirror they didn't like and vice versa. My sister looks like my dad, she has his dark coloring and dark eyes. You know what I mean? She gets stopped at Security, where I sail right through. :)....Anyhoo, my mum got up and spoke of how this small surgery turned into quite the catastrophe and ultimately his death. But you know? It makes me happy to know that now dad is every where I go. Although I'm hoping he will stay outside when it's shower time etc. Oh Stop, he would laugh and you know it!
Like all parents, dad tried his best and I know he loved me no matter what. But then I was supposed to be a girl and I was, not so much for my sister. But I guess he loved her too, I mean you have to, right? hahahahaha...Sorry Deb, love you long time...Just trying to keep this light, because my dad was where I learned how to wear the stoic badge. I never saw him cry, until he was dying, he always kept a stiff upper lip and kept his emotions to himself. Now, if he were mad? Oh yeah, like me, you saw it. No question there. But I'm not going to sit and snivel in front of people because that's not how I am wired. I've received quite the nickname list due to this. "Ice Princess", "Refrigerator", and my favorite comment "you're cold as ice", hey it was a song, how bad could it be? I know, I know, I personally don't view crying as a weakness for other people. You're upset and want to cry and bawl? Go for it, I will be your shoulder to cry on. But if I should cry, I don't need colluding, patting or hugging. That makes it worse for me. I will wrap this up with some of my dad's fave lines. Ahem..."The thing is this, if you know what I mean", "Now, I'm not saying she/he's fat but..." and my mum's personal nugget, "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MARILYN!!!!" Love you Dad, always did and always will. XXXXOOO
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