It’s still hard to believe my father passed away 10 years ago on July 13, 2008.
Our lives have never been the same. When I say our lives I’m speaking for myself and my two adult children, Josh and Abby.
Somehow someway as a baby, Abby captured my father’s heart in a way that no other had. Abby possessed a spirit of quiet peacefulness. She was my Angel Baby. I really believe my father and Abby experienced a Spirit to Spirit connection with each other. Words were not necessary. There was an understanding that surpassed their human minds.
My father affectionately referred to himself as “An Old Yankee” and I am so grateful for that. He taught me to be a person of integrity and authenticity. He taught me to work hard and honestly. He taught me to be kind to people. He taught me to not judge a book by its cover.
My kids and I would absolutely crack up while visiting with him. He would make us laugh even when that was not his intention. He didn’t know much about social graces and that was hysterically obvious at times.
He was a carpenter by trade and it was with great pride that he built his own house in Huntington CT in 1952. My mother had told me that she worked right alongside him as much as she could. It seems to me her biggest job in building that house was shooing away the cows that would stray up from the farm down the street or maybe it was attempting to keep toddler Joyce safe on the construction site!
My Mom, Lizzy, was quite the gal! My father deeply loved her. Although, I must admit, at times I did not understand their relationship.
They had been married for 48 years when my Mom passed away in November 1997. She was barely 70 at the time. My parents had a 38 year battle with my Mom’s multiple sclerosis. She had a tenacious spirit and a wild sense of humor! Those traits enabled her to live her life to the fullest each day. My Dad mourned the loss of his “Liz” for those 11 long years without her.
Knowing my parents, they are together, dancing and socializing in a place I call Heaven.
