Thursday, May 18, 2023
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”
What’s in a legacy? As we prepare for the next two days, in honor and memory of our father, my brother and I represent all of the very best parts of him. His smile and sense of humor. His love of family. His passion for community. WE are his legacy. And I hope we’ve made him proud.
Dad, I honor your life today not because you were perfect, but because you were mine. My father. You taught me what heroes are made of. You taught me how to love life even when it's terrifying and difficult and you know it's going to be painful. As I sat and held your hand throughout my life, more so the past couple weeks of your pain and suffering, I saw an incredible person, my hero. Another life lesson, how precious life really is.
I will always carry your pain and suffering in my heart, but I can also see my father, my superhero, the strongest man in the world. Everyone knows my father could be difficult at times and, We didn’t always see eye too eye but thats what made us who we are and fight for whats right. Over the years I learned my dad kept a hidden secret of military PTSD which tortured his soul for his entire life until his dying day. My mother never gave up on him she carried his secret and tried to comfort him as best she knew how. Little did I know, I was being conditioned with the same guard of armour, which keeps me standing to this day.
As a grandfather, my dad has maintained this steady presence and leadership by example. My children already have had many ups and downs in their young lives. And throughout it all, Grandma and Grandpa have been there to steady guide and set them back on course. Kaitlyn and Nicholas honors your life as well. One of the hardest parts of this for me is not only your departure from my life, but your departure from theres especially your grandson.
To the ones who read this far, I want to leave you off with a few words of encouragement that I live by based on experience. I encourage you to capture the photos while being in the moment with your friends and family. When the time comes, all you will have left are photos to hold their memory. You will want to document these years of your life and share them in the future. I encourage you to tell the people in your life how important they are to you. You never know when what tomorrow brings. I encourage you to hug your loved ones close, and lastly, always pray because tomorrow is never promised. Dad, I will do my best to keep our families memories alive. Mom and Dad are finally together again, You both can rest now, I love you.
