A bit of self-indulgent retrospection
Twelve years ago Father’s day was Sunday, June 17th. I know because my father died on Father’s Day in 1990. He’d missed dying by heart attack in 1970. He missed dying by stroke in 1972. Both were diseases that were exacerbated, if not out-and-out caused, by smoking.
Through it all, he peristed in smoking, to the point where my mother caught him sneaking smokes in the rehab facility he was at for months after his stroke. When he died twenty years later, it was of cancer of the brain, which had metasticized from his lungs. I guess you can only duck the bullet so many times.
Most of what I know about my father as a person I learned after his death. While he was alive, he never told me much of anything. I never asked, either. No need to assign blame. There’s plenty for everyone.
My father was always disappointed that I didn’t choose a profession in one of the hard sciences. I always felt that I let him down when I instead went into paralegal work after college. He died two years before I returned to school to begin earning the credits that would gain me admission to vet school. I’d like to think he’d be proud, knowing that I got the vet degree.
I don’t think my father died a happy man. I also don’t think I could have done anything about that. It leaves a aura of sadness about his death that twelve years has not shaken off.
*HUG*
i wish i could give you a hug.
i’m sure he’d be proud of you.
you did good, Ms. Salamander…
take care.
/arm around your shoulder/
Sal, thanks for sharing your "self-indulgent retrospection". I could relate to much of it, although it was my mother who died from smoking. My father died in 1987; I too, learned more about him after his death than I ever did before.
For so many of us, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are poignant times of remembrance.
*~Salamander~*
Dad’s, I think they are the best thing in the world. Although I have missed all 16 years of my life being with him, since my parents are divorced. I never have gotten to get a chance to know him. Now, that I’m going to live with him for a year, this is MY chance to know my dad.
It takes two to tango, and if not for your dad, you wouldn’t be here now… : )
Love,Alaina
P.S. This is my new diary (explanation onsat 15th’s entry under Avalonelf)
I am quite sure your dad would be very proud of your accomplishments!!!!
I’m sorry. 🙁
🙁 sorry you were in mourning this day, sal. i can’t imagine your father wouldn’t be (or isn’t) proud of you.
i still have mine, but he is avoiding treatment for the unusual skin growths he’s having of late. we’re all on his case to get them checked out in case it’s skin cancer. very stubborn.
hugs to you.
I’m sure your Dad is very proud of you. Most likely he was proud of you before, but also knew what you were capable of. You seem quite happy to be in the industry you’re in now. Maybe Dad was on the right track?
~QE