kerrycorcoran
Contributor
Very well stated! Enjoy it to the fullest.
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Yep, it sucks, but then it always does. My mom went suddenly like Lisa did sorta', which is the kinder way to go - as we all go sometime. My dad lingered and suffered in the best old folks homes too long, against his wishes. Either way it sucks.So sorry to hear about your loss. It breaks my heart that she had waited her whole life to retire and then dies on the day of her retirement.. just so ironic and sad. Anyone can be taken at any given time and it is hard to understand that. I know she would want you to continue to live your life, but I am sure that is a struggle for you... like it would be for anyone. I hope you have an awesome trip!
This thread will get the most Likes ever...!!
Sweet story, waynel - and I admire your attitude. I'll be on the island in a few days and it'd be an honor to shake your hand - somewhere. Who are you diving with...??
Yep, it sucks, but then it always does. My mom went suddenly like Lisa did sorta', which is the kinder way to go - as we all go sometime. My dad lingered and suffered in the best old folks homes too long, against his wishes. Either way it sucks.
I remember one trip I had planned for North Carolina wreck diving when dad went in. I considered cancelling, but didn't - as I just didn't think he'd want me to stop traveling and wait for him to die. I knew I could get home in a day if he took a turn for the worst. I stopped by a military surplus store near the Marine Corp air base on the road there and got him a commemorative USMC cap for the Intrepid, his ship as a seagoing Marine in WWII. First smile I'd seen on him in a long time, and I guess the last one. The ship is a museum in NYC now, and he got to visit it in the 1980s after he remarried. My sis has the foresight to contact them in advance to let them know a ship vet was coming, and they got out the keys to the restricted areas so he could go anywhere he wanted.
I was there all day & night when he did pass. It was sad to see him off but I was glad he was no longer suffering. We scheduled the funeral for a few days later, on a Monday, the director filed the forms to request an honor guard, and - I called my old Marine Reserve company in Lubbock. I didn't know the First Sgt who took the call or anyone else there, but I told him I hoped that they could make the duty call themselves, even tho the VFW volunteers do a good job when called.
Once arrangements were made, I told my siblings that I had a weekend dive trip planned a couple hundred miles away - a local club with contests in a 20 foot deep training spring, so I thought I'd just go, and return for the services. Maybe I should have stuck around to host the visitors, but I went. I even won a reg I've used on my pony for a decade since.
Oh, Monday came, we had a nice service in the small town church, then headed for our cemetery. We could see it a half mile away when we made the turn out of town, and see the Marines at Parade Rest waiting. Lovely graveside service.
Well, I am rambling, but sharing like waynel did is best, so I jumped in...
I am diving with Dive with Martin. I will be on the island from Thursday, May 28 through Thursday June 4.