Don, I saw my dad go downhill as I'd run him into town for his Chemo treatments then 3 days before his passing I went to visit him at home. Here's a man that worked a full-time job then when he came home he'd work on anything from a wristwatch to a semi tractor in the garage or driveway. He'd be up at 4:30 AM every day and work until dark to support my mom and 7 of us kids. I didn't realize until I was all gorwn up and house of the house how hard he had it and wondered how both of my parents did it.
During my last visit at the house he wasn't who he was, not even enough energy to bathe himself without help. He told me that he was sick of sitting around watching soap operas and game shows and wanted something to do so he had me go out to the garage and bring in a few things for him to tinker with. He never got the chance to do anything with that stuff.
I've found it hard to talk to someone after a loved one of theirs had just passed away. When dad died I wondered why people didn't talk to me and that's when it hit me. I found it hard for me to cry also as that's something that I felt that I needed to do yet I can sit in front of the TV watching some movie and find myself choking up with tears steaming down my face. Now that I'm sitting here typing this up I have tears welling up in my eyes.
Relish the times that you had with him.
