"I love you, Frank…"

What a blessing to have these be your Father’s last words to you!

😎 😎 😎

Frank thank you for sharing that. It was very personal. I hope sharing was cathartic. Clearly if it was possible for your parents to know what was happening today they would be proud of their children, grandchildren and great grand children.

Time…..time…time

It takes its toll on all of us. Today I was out with my son doing last minute Christmas stuff. I took note of all the elderly people that were out and about. They moved slow, reacted slow it was as if they were not equipped to handle the modern world. How can they drive I thought. I thought how time would soon catch up to me . I thought about my parents now in their 70’s. My parents are always together. How could one live without the other. Time would one day separate them.

When i was In the supermarket an elderly woman was seated on a bench, she had a blank smile and empty starring eyes. I knew that look from my grandmother. She was a VICTIM of Alzheimer’s, one of the cruelest diseases out there. I told my son I never wanted to live like that. I said that euthanasia was preferable to me. He dismissed me, he is young, he can not understand.

Years ago I mentioned on the GTC pages a neighbor/friend I had. His name was Ed. He lived most of his life in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. He personally knew the older generation of Franks family. He was a great guy, a hard worker, the kind of person that built this country. I loved talking to him. He was a big horse racing enthusiast. He was always around to help when I had a home improvent project.
When I first met him I was a young father. He watched my family grow.

When we moved from Staten Island to NJ. I felt i was abandoning him
Yesterday I got a call from a another former neighbor. Ed had passed away in a StatenIsland nursing home. He was well in his nineties. The last few years he was bedridden. I knew he must have wanted to die, this was a guy that was up on a ladder doing roof repairs when he was in his eighties. I had wanted to visit him in the home but never got around to it. My mistake.

I guess the lesson i took from frank’s poignant article is enjoy the time you have. Live in the moment. Cherish those around you while you still can.

Thanks for the article. Thanks for letting me post about Ed. It was good for me.

I will have about 40 people at my home, later today, for Christmas Eve. Rather than think about the work of hosting our annual feast. I will be more in tune with my family and friends. That article was a blessing.

Frank this is a lovely story and a nice tribute to your parents and especially your dad. Thanks for sharing. It brings back good memories of my dad.

My dad died in 1993 at 69 1/2. He rarely told me he loved me at least I don’t remember any times, BUT I know he did. My dad sacrificed for me especially my education. He was always proud of me. I still have people that knew him remind me just how proud he was of me.

He died loving me.

I am 55. I miss my dad also.

Frank,
Your beautiful written story reminds me of so many similar events I lived with my parents and in-laws, your magnificent description brings tears of to my eyes.
Thank you for the wonderful reminder there is nothing more important year round than family.
Merry Christmas and may the New Year be good to you in health, wealth and continued success with the shrinking wasteline.
Tom M. Set44 😀 😀 😀

Frank; Great story. The best to you and your family. DoughBoy

Frank,
You really are a super writer. You know how to craft the words.
But how do the subject words "The Worst Be of All" relate to
the story? I’m not smart enough to figure it out.
I’m sure I missed it. Could you enlighten me?

Frank,

As always, great writing and a very personal and touching story. My Dad turned 80 this year, my Mom will hopefully turn 78 on 12/31.

I am enjoying every day with them, as unfortunately my uncle has just passed a month ago, and I am constantly reminded having went to 10 wakes/funerals in the past two months. So much for deaths of close ones coming in threes. Sometimes they come up much quicker. My Dad has received stints and has suffered many heart issues, but is doing ok plugging along every day. He still enjoys golf a few times a week.

My Dad is not one to tell me he loves me either, but I know it even though it’s unspoken.

Your Dad really loved you, he made sure he told you one more time.

Thank you for your story. I believe both your Mom and your Dad are still watching over you.

Merry Christmas

I am sorry for your loss. May God grant your Father and your entire family peace. We live on in the acts of kindness we performed while we were here on earth.

Frank, just a beautifully written story.

My condolences to you and your family.

My father, unfortunately, is in the grips of Altzheimers also. I am seeing an ever rapidly increase in the progression of the disease.

I am not sure he knows my name. He does recognize me as someone special. The amount of mental degridation between Thanksgiving and now is astonishing. My mom is right there taking care of his every need. The strain is beginning to show on her.

He is at the point where he is still manageable at home. For how much longer, who knows?

I pray that God takes him before he gets to the point where my Mom can no longer care for him. He loves her so much. When she is with him, he is calm. When they are apart he is unmanageable.

NFF

Frank

We are very sorry for your loss, some times there just are not any
other words to say.

gman

Frank is not only an amazing author, he is also a wonderful father and husband. I remember him leaving Las Vegas and Atlantic City to rush home to support and help AP who was the subject of his father’s verbal abuse.

My Dad died in 1994, and I still dream about him, and miss him terribly. I wish he could see how well his grandchildren are doing and the families they are raising so beautifully. I made sure to tell my children I love them every day when they were living at home, and now, every time I talk with them on the phone or see them in person.

Sandtrap almost died in May, and has been hospitalized 5 times since January. We never know how long we will have on this earth. The life given to us is very precious. I make sure my family will know how precious they are to me.

Goddess

Few words can comfort this loss. The thought that may friends from this site know and understand what you are experiencing now is a comfort though. None of us are spared these times so now we share yours, it’s a tough loss. I miss my parents too…

My condolences Frank,

Your father’s last words, Frankie, I love you is priceless.

Powerful.