8 years ago today.....

I will never forget that day, October 25th, 2000 when I got the devastating call at work that my dad had passed away. A part of me died that day along with him. He went to bed the night before and never woke up. My mom found him in the morning when she awoke. He was only 68 and was never sick.  We had no warning. I seen him the week before when I was up visiting. I had no way of knowing when I kissed and hugged him as I left to walk out that door that day that it would be the last time I would do that. The last words I spoke to him as I turned to walk away was  "Bye, I love you. I'll see you at Christmas".  I had no idea that there would no Christmas together that year. I didn't know that day would be that last time I would feel his touch, hear his voice, see his beautiful face. If I had known then that was my final good-bye to him I never would have left that day. I would have stayed there and cherished that last week of his life. But I had no way of knowing...... He may not have been rich or famous but he was more then that, he was my DAD and the best dad ever. He never had alot of money but he had a lot of love to give. He was a wonderful husband to my mom. They were married 48 years. He was such a good dad to his six daughters and his many grandchildren...who all loved their Grampie. I often wondered how he survived all those years with a house full of women. We were far from the perfect daughters but no matter what kind of mess we got ourselves in, he was always there to help us out.  We were all very close to him and he was a big part of our lives. My children adored him and he would always be so happy to see them when we went up to visit. My son was only 9 at the time of his death but in those 9 years dad touched in life greatly and help mould him into my the wonderful young man that he is today.Every summer we would go on vacation somewhere with my mom and dad. We have so many wonderful memories of those times we spent together. They say that a daughter ends up with a man like her dad. Well I got it all wrong.  My H is nothing like my dad. They are complete opposites.  It has only been this year that I have been able to look at pictures of him. Before that it was too difficult. I have yet to beable to go to his gravesite. Everytime I am up home to visit my mom and we pass by the grave yard, a lump forms in my throat and tears come to my eyes. I can't do it....but in time I will beable to.  If you have somebody special in your life please don't ever take your time together with them for granted...make sure you tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you.  Pick up the phone, go for a visit, send an e-mail because you just never know when they will be taken from you... I love you dad and I miss you so much.