Dear Dad......

Dad

Aug 28, 1925 - November 29,1986

I sure wish you could have stuck around longer. Sixty one years seems such a short life as I get closer to that age.  You missed meeting five of your six wonderful grandkids.  They missed you being a part of their lives as they were growing up.  You didn't get to take them fishing, or out in your sailboat, or show them how to 'throw' a pottery bowl.  And I know how much you loved kids.

On this date, 24 years ago, my Dad passed away of a massive heart attack while out on his sailboat.  He was alone, and a friend out sailing spotted his boat drifting aimlessly.  

It was completely unexpected, although there was a real family history of heart problems.  He thought his issue was a stomach ulcer, but now I have to wonder how much of what he thought was ulcer pain was actually heart pain.

Here's Meredith and her 'Buppa', a few months before he died

A friend of mine said her dad had said he would give five years off his life to die quickly like my dad did, doing something he loved.  In reality though, I'm not sure that he would.  Five years is a long time in a child's life.

We love you and miss you Dad