My father has been a backbone to our family forever. Since I was a child and became ill he managed to support us, be there for me no matter what the situation, and still be a father to the rest of the family. Mom became ill and for 6 years cared for her until she passed. That was about 18 years ago if I counted correctly. I look back and never really remember him being ill, I mean seriously ill. In the past few years as with the rest of the world, as he grows older he has begun to have problems. A bad back, hip replacement, an aneurysm in his aorta, and so on and so on. In the last year he had a staph infection which he could not get rid of and nearly killed him, but through it all he seems to not only bounce back to the point I call him my cat with 9 lives, he does so with a pretty good attitude. I am not saying he has not been a bit depressed going in and out of the hospital and having one thing on top of another happen, but considering he amazes my sister and I and keeps his chin up and comes back a little stronger each time he is down. Of course he is in his 8o’s now so bouncing back is a bit slower and the bundle of energy he once was is still there but at a much slower pace. I admire his courage and stamina and know that the day I loose him, I will loose a major piece of myself. It will be like the chunk I lost when my mother passed and that was a major chunk of myself. For now I try to see him when we can since he lives a few hours away and look forward to him coming for a visit soon.
Hmmm…no wonder I am the way I am, that apple thing sounds like it is very true. Did you fall from that apple tree in your family too? Feel free to share
