It is really hard to
believe that next Friday, November 19th, will mark one year since my father's
passing. It is amazing how different grief can be the second time around,
especial when you officially become an "adult orphan".
This week a year ago, we were
finally able to visit my Dad consistently while he was in hospice. It was a
week, despite the visit to the nursing home, it was business as usual. My
brother was still working (probably 9-10 hour days) and I teaching a full load,
still attending meetings and trying to deal with the fact that within a week my
Dad would be dead.
His death taught me a lot about
how much his approach to "difficult life events" that I had adopted.
This same week, business as usual, I began my Canvas Certified Instructor certificate"
which I would continue through this past. My Dad was one that never really had
the luxury of grieving like "normal folks". Through the almost three
and half decades my parents were together he had to grieve often but still do "business
as usual" through the many hospitalizations my mother had, dealing with
her mental illness, and her death.
So, when the time came for us
to deal with his death, it was "business as usual".
What I have learned about
grieving, there is no timetable because it is forever. Grief although we think
it can break you, it actually makes you a lot stronger. My grief was right on
time because it ran alongside a worldwide pandemic and reminded me that I
should be grateful for every breath I was blessed with.
There was one thing that was
born out of his death: I no longer tolerate the behaviors, events, and actions
the break spirits. Through my Dad's death, I was found the courage to do those
things that I didn't think I would do beyond getting my Ph.D.
I am thankful for 47 years I
was blessed to have my Dad. I am thankful for the 11 years he had Parkinson's
disease and I know that our visits together during that time, not only blessed
him but those that lived with him in the nursing home.
I am also thankful that my Dad
was "Superman" in the flesh. A human that always fought for the
underdogs of the world and was willing to help those in need.
Well, Superman, I hope you like
the StorpCorp piece for a Yours Truly campaign around Parkinson's next
week.
Until we meet again in 2073, keep
being my Superman in the Sky, and thank you for those two weeks for us to
accept your transition into peace.
