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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Missing Gus

My dad died a month ago, and I'm still reeling from it.  I go for a few days and I'm okay, and then some little memory will open the floodgate of tears.  He was a very special man, extremely charismatic, a real character.  He drove me crazy much of the time, but I adored him nonetheless.  He was both bombastic and humble, defied death until he was 97, but even at that age seemed invincible.  My three sisters and I relied on him for advice and a good laugh until the last week of his life.  While my mom, at 95, suffers from dementia, Dad remained pretty darn sharp (with a steel-trap memory), funny, and wise.  He lived in an apartment on his own, on his computer and facebook daily.  But one last heart attack did him in, even though he lived through other heart episodes, illness, and injuries in the past.  He was an incredible life-force while on this earth.  I miss him so much.
 tootling around wal*mart.  people thought he was 80, even though here he was 96
always a lover: giving mom a smooch at the nursing home where he visited her often
dad, looking like a sweet teddy bear, with me in 1985
me and my daddy, around 1958

8 comments:

  1. My heart goes out to you. My own dad has been gone for 13 years now -- which doesn't seem possible -- and I still miss him. But the memories make me smile. I loved your photos!

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  2. This is a beautiful post and tribute. I am very sorry for your loss.

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  3. Im sorry for your loss.Very touching post, I hope you find strength in this difficult time.

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  4. Thank you for sharing your sweet memories of your father, I'm so sorry for your loss. My father passed away almost 8 years ago and not a day goes by without thinking about him. You're right, he sure didn't look his age.

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  5. thanks for posting this, Margy - sniff!
    love, Fafi

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  6. Maggie,

    I am so sorry for your loss of your sweet Daddy. It is good for you to think of him, share photos, & just let the waves of sadness wash over you. I wish I could tell you it would go away........ but, all I can tell you is gets not quiet so "Fresh". My sweet Daddy has been gone since 2005 now & I still miss him everyday. I guess we should count ourselves lucky girls to have had these angels as our Daddy's. Sending you healing hugs. Charlene

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  7. margy, you have me bawling again. and, by the way, it's pronounced "walmark". I love that photo of you and daddy when you were little, you and your bunny slippers and little barrette.

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  8. My dad died 20 years ago very suddenly at the age of 65. I still miss him as if it was yesterday so don't worry about grieving for a long time. A month is nothing. He seemed a great character from your little 'sketch' of him and you were lucky to have him for so long.

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