In memory of my dad

I don't mind at all. Again, I would like to Thank You all for your posts. Before I write about my dad, I would like to post some pictures of the ceremony.

I have to stop here to tell you that as the Honor Guard folded the flag and when they got to the very last fold..................................................
as we waited...........and waited..............and waited...........because she could not get that last fold in.....................and still waited.............by this time I had to keep myself from laughing...........I felt so bad for her.

The order was finally made to do it again. So, they had to unwrap the flag and start over. I felt so bad for them and I also know that they will hear about it and probably be made to practice it over and over again.
I plan to let the military know that they did a great job and try not to be to hard on them.

TTH--

Would your Dad have been smiling about the flag?

Why do you ask?

I'm sure he was, TTH. It's a beautiful flag. The most beautiful in the world, IMO.

My condolences to you. It's very hard to loose someone who was so close to you. Hang in there!

Stray Cat
Thank You and I am trying.



Dad for some reason I like this song and I want you to hear it.

P. Diddy feat. Dominique - I'll Be Missing You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCri_mtaDk

I promised my dad I wouldn't let him die alone. I spent every night in ICU with him and practically every day. I hardly got any sleep. I kept my promise and I held his hand as he took his last breath. That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

I will post more pictures and write more later. I can't right now.

TTH--

I asked whether your Dad would have been amused at the problems with the flag folding because you were amused.

Sometimes you can bond with a parent after death in a way that was impossible when the parent was living.

Being ex-military, I don't think my dad would have found it amusing.

I think you would have wanted your brothers and sisters mentioned in your obituary. I hope I get it right and if I don't, I know you will understand.

Your brothers:
Vernon- died of cancer
Joe- I will leave out how he died
Lester- your twin brother who died of cancer
Harold- already mentioned in the obituary and also a twin

Your sisters:
Norma- died of cancer
Vera- died of cancer (twin to your brother Harold)
Reba- whereabouts unknown

I know you would have probably wanted Aunt Goldie mentioned, your brother Joe's wife, and their children, my cousins, Jerry, Rita and Ronnie (also Roger who is deceased)
When I was 17 (I think), Roger went into the Witness Protection Program so I never got to see him again.

Uncle Harold's son, my cousin Dee, should have been mentioned.

TTH--

I have a branch of the family who have been career military for four generations. Everyone of them had a fine sense of the absurd about both civilian and military matters.

Your post Noddy24 made me think and I can't recall the last time I saw my dad laugh. He was never the same after his brother Joe died. My dad was real quiet. He was very nice and had a heart of gold. Seriously though, I never saw my dad laugh after his brother died and that must have been 20+ years ago.

I think any man who spent time in the military and who was aware of the imperfections of soldiers of good will would have smiled a little at the mis-folded flag.

SNAFU, and all that.

Would you say that your father was an unhappy man? Or just that there was little joy in his life?

I don't think he was unhappy, just very little joy. I don't know why though.

Some men take troubles lightly. Other men carry them bravely but without enthusiasm.

It was short all right. He went into the hospital on the 10th to have a biopsy and died on the 18th. We never expected that. No one even knew he had cancer.


Noddy24 I think you are right

Sudden deaths are always difficult for the survivors. Of course there is no knowing how long your dad was aware of discomfort and how long he chose not to make a fuss.

True, Noddy.

But then, we all learn to live with various pains as we get older, some of them profound. Sometimes it starts out minor and increases so gradually we just get used to it and adapt. Maybe his symptoms weren't so bad that he couldn't just put up with them until near the end.

Maybe the suddenness was a blessing.

You sound like a pretty good person, TTH. I guess I've had you wrong all this time.

I am very sorry to hear about your father's passing. Hang in there and let me know when you are well enough for me to start giving you crap again.