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Random Quote: If you haven't run aground, you haven't been around...
This has brought back poignant memories of my own father-in-law, who treated me like I was his own son. He passed away 13 years ago.
My father-in-law was a World War II veteran too. He was an Army Captain, a medical officer, who volunteered even though he had a wife and 4 small children at home, because he knew his skills would be needed overseas.
He was stationed in France, and was in the Ardennes when the Germans were bombarding the forest with heavy artillery. He swore he would never complain about the heat again if God would spare his life; he slept in the snow and was cold for months on end. He said he thought he would never be able to feel warm after that. He never did complain about the heat - he would smile even on the most humid and hot days here on the Jersey Shore, and tell us that story, again and again.
We were bored by these stories, having heard them over and over, and I feel guilty now that I didn't hug him for his sacrifice, but that was something you just didn't do.
He also told us about the "40 and 8s", the trains the soldiers rode to the front. The name came from the layout of the seating: 40 rows long, 8 seats wide. His worst memories were when a train was hit by the heavy German artillery, and hundreds of young American soldiers, never before in combat, were torn apart from the bomb blast and wood shrapnel that the sides of the trains were made from.
I was initially annoyed that Dan Rather referred to this group as "The Greatest Generation". I thought that Rather was insulting us, and ignoring our contributions. I miss these older guys now, and I miss their humility and their kindness. I took them for granted. I'm sorry for your loss, but you're lucky to have had him as long as you did. I hope some of his goodness stays with you and you're able to pass it down to your sons.
My condolences on the loss of your father. I lost my mother a couple of weeks ago, but I am grateful her passing was very peaceful and sudden. I too have watched loved ones suffer through cancer, and it can be a very cruel disease.
Take comfort in the fact your dad is no longer suffering and was given a long and productive life. God bless you and your family in this time of mourning.
__________________
"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?"
1974 Hatteras 58TC "Freebird", 1965 Hatteras 41DC "Nancy Cay", For Sale - Click HERE for info
"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue of the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminshed size is in me, not her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
Thank you so much for all that have posted, especially those that shared their special moments with me. Things are a little hectic right now; but God bless him, he had pre-arranged all of his funeral. As a retired military, he will be interred at the Bay Pines Veterans Cemetery in St Petersburg, Florida and buried with a military honor guard ceremony.
do not stand at my grave and weep. i am not there. I do not sleep. i am a thousand winds that blow. i am the diamonds glint on the snow. i am the sunlight on ripening grain. i am the gentle autumn's rain. when you awaken in the morning hush, i am the swift uplifting rush. of quite birds in circled flight. i am the soft stars that shine at night. do not stand at my grave and cry, i am not there, i did not die.
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God, and across the sky
flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand. One belonging to God, and the other to me.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I look back at the
footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of
my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that
it happened at the very lowest and saddest time in my life. This
really bothered me and I questioned God about it.
God, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk
with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I do not understand why, in times when I needed You most,
You should leave me alone.
Then GOD replied
My precious child,
I love you and would never, never leave you wondering during your
time of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of
footprints in the sand, it was then, that I, carried you.
photob
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