Dear Dad-
I want you to know that I am doing OK. I have a million memories and thoughts racing thru my mind right now that I want to talk to you about- I have put them down in black and white and then deleted them because I was rambling. I hate rambling-especially when I am trying to make a specific point. The point I HOPE to make is that you were a great Dad, a great Bumpa and a great friend. Here are some memories that stick out in my mind when I think of our time together: finding charleston chews in my shoes the morning after you had come home from a long trucking route; catching a shark at North Pond; building cabins in the woods and then getting so mad at you for cutting down the 2 pine tree forests that I always built them in; the gift of gab; Spunky (not saying anymore on my cow); gardening-especially digging for potatoes; water fights in the house when Mom wasn't home; the tree house; all of the numerous animals we raised over the years; "resting my eyes"; sports (you were always our biggest and loudest fan); showing me how to drive the beat up chevy S-10 (manual shift) around the field and then helping Noonan and I get it unstuck; getting my first ever letter from you while I was in basic training and you telling me that you were proud of me; teaching me to drive; you always tinkering in the garage; buying broken pieces of heavy equipment for a really cheap price (not sure if this was to piss Mom off or if it would just keep you busy in the garage); being there when I deployed and then when I got home; helping to raise Gavin while I was in Iraq; the Bumpa Mystique-pertaining to both animals and children; being there in my weakest moments and then being there when I found my soul mate; being there to support me during the deployments and TDY trips Brian made; Being at my Army promotions; picking up the phone to tell me what noise I was hearing in my car was and assuring me that it wouldn't blow up; excavating my back yard twice; always wearing a smile and telling me that attitude was everything-and then reinforcing that once you were diagnosed; Thanksgiving 2014 at my house; Christmas 2014; you coming home this month; me being able to repay the love and tenderness you showed me growing up by caring for you; lobster; being by your side when you took your last breath.
At the moment of your passing I felt so at peace with the world. There was nothing more important than to be right where I was-with you. April 28th was a day of celebration! Jack turned 7 years old, and you passed over to a new home free of pain and plenty of love. The day of April 28th started out at 2am for me...waking up to hear commotion by your bedside. Jodi came in and got me to see if I was awake and all three of us girls were with you in the living room. You were very restless: up and down and tossing and turning. I am baffled at how you maintained your strength! Someone who's body had been weakened so much by cancer was still standing up and walking-my God that was inspiring. I tried NOT to feel bad for you Dad-I was in awe watching your determination and fight. I have never met anyone with as mush strength, persistence and stubbornness! Until the end-you did things your way, even deciding on when enough was enough. The time you chose to leave this world was impeccable. The yard looked like the Wal-Mart parking lot (I told you that) and the house was filled with loved ones. Dustin was grilling steaks, food that Wendy had made was being baked in the oven and Aunt Barbie had brought a trunk full of food too. It was like a party at the house-all in honor of you. I think God would have approved of the "small" wine collection we have started as well-afterall, wine is in the Bible! It was not planned or intentional...it just was. To me-this was symbolic of your life-and we were all celebrating YOUR life. The love that surrounded the house-both inside and out was so amazing-that the only suiting words that come to mind are: My cup runneth over.
Please continue to guide me from Heaven and help me watch over the others in the family: I promised you I would do my best to do what you have always done: dedicate time and love to family and show compassion for others. The life lessons you have INSTILLED into me will never be forgotten and I will work to instill those same values into my children-and by doing so, your memory will never fade. I love you Dad, and I said to you so many times-I got you...only now I hold you in my heart.
-your loving daughter, Angela
