As we enter the last week of February, I am pausing my workload to return to this blog. It’s been quiet for some time now because my father passed away in November.
I can hardly believe that he is actually gone. Yes, he lived a long life, but I miss him terribly. I wish I could still walk into his room and hear his greeting, ” HEY!!!” I wish I could sit down with him and talk about his stories about WWII and how he outwitted the Germans. I wish I could organize all his messy papers, show him pictures of the family, and take him on walks on the outside trails.
I didn’t feel like writing about it and, at first, I could not articulate the reasons. I suppose that the busyness of work and the holidays keeps one from writing. After a parent passes away, one needs to manage paperwork and other tasks. My brother has managed this part which is a blessing.
Upon further reflection, however, I think it was because of the closure that I always dreaded. Both parents are gone. I don’t think I have fully come to terms with this truth. My Michigan visits will be different now. I will not be heading to Waterford. I don’t even know if I could actually walk into Waterford right now without feeling a huge void and expressing the ” ugly cry”, not the best presentation of myself.
It was the email, though, that prompted me to rethink my feelings. ” Do you know of any Christian podcasts that focus on issues with aging parents?” It was a wake-up call for me. It reminded me of the importance of helping those who are caregivers. It reminded me of the need to establish a caregiving support group at church. In other words,the journey must continue. My role must continue. But what does this look like? This is for another blog post. In the meantime, I will share some pictures of my father’s service.
A Journey Worth Remembering 