A Tribute to My Dad

[Blueberry]

Mr. Silver-

What a beautiful and loving tribute to your father. You truly did all that you could for him, including letting go.

Hugs to you all.

CA

[bambu101]

My condolences to you and your famliy. That was a beautiful tribute to your dad.

[7rider]

What Wahine said.
Condolences to the Silver family.
It is a sad time, and I'm glad you were there for him. My own dad passed away peacefully 4 years ago with his family at his side.
It's hard to lose that rock...that base...but as you said: a new chapter begins with the strength of family that he instilled in you.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Silver family)))))))

Though it may not seem so now, I hope your grief will be lightened by the closure you gave him and yourself.

[cosc]

Mr. Silver and family, so sorry you lost your Dad. May you be able to gain strength from all the good attributes he passed on to you and yours.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm so, so sorry to hear of your loss.

[Tiffany]

My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Silver family.

I am lucky that I haven't had to experience the loss of a parent yet. However, when it happens, I hope I am as fortunate as you to get the chance to say goodbye. May Silver Sr. live in your happiest memories until you meet again.

[indysteel]

Dear Silver Family,

I'm so sorry about your father and grandfather. I'm glad, however, that you were able to make peace with his passing and that you were with him to say your goodbyes. I hope you and your family find solace for your grief. I'll be praying for and thinking of you in the days and weeks to come.

Hugs,

Kate

[massbikebabe]

I am so very sorry for your loss Mr. Silver;

In April of 2006 six months after my stroke I lost my best friend and football buddy. We both loved to watch the games together. It was weird because he had been planning a trip home to Ireland for years but four college tuitions and six grankids kept him from going for the longest time. Finally he has his chance. On the day he and Mom were leaving I brought them a camera case and went over to wish them well. I kissed Mom and then I kissed my Dad and said "don't get in trouble over there, you have to be home for Molly's graduation." He kissed me and said I love you Katie, and then kissed me again and said give this to Molly when she graduates because I am going home to die. The following Monday I was folding clothes when the phone rang and I heard my husband say "I better tell her"...sure enough he was gone. I miss him everyday but am glad he did not suffer. It takes time but now when I think of him I laugh, sometimes cry but mostly laugh...he would want it that way!

I know he is up there waiting for me with a cold beer and a good football game!

karen

[Mr. Bloom]

Karen, what a story! Wow!

Last Sunday, Silver and I were visiting him at the nursing home and he just started rolling his chair out the door. "Dad, where are you going?" "Home", he says. "Dad, it's too cold outside." "I'm ready to leave", he says.

At the time, I halfway felt that "home" was somewhere else and that he knew it was time. I'm now sure of it.

It's funny: At his bedside, I tried to talk about memories to him. In the days since he died, we naturally remember so many more things. Though, at his bedside in the shock of the situation, I struggled to find things in my memory...

One vivid memory that I reminded him of at his bedside was one I have from about 10 years ago when we were out walking with my parents while the kids rode their bikes...and

my dad said "I want to ride a bike".

I paused and said something like "Dad, you're 70 years old...the pavement's hard...are you sure you want to do that?"

He said, "I WANT to ride your bike"

"OK, here it is"

It wasn't graceful, it was almost scary, but by golly, he rode that bike!

We weren't into cycling then...but for all these years, I've remembered that...

Funeral in 8 hrs and 21 minutes...

[Starfish]

Funeral in 8 hrs and 21 minutes...

Hi Mr. I'll be thinking about you, Silver and your family in 8 hours, and in the waiting between now and then.

[Flybye]

Like Starfish said, I'll be thinking about you today, too.

Celebrate your fathers life today!

I am such a daddy's girl, it brings tears to my eyes to think that the day we send him home isn't that far away.

I love your memory of your father on your bike. I had a great visual in mind while reading your account!

My brother in law who suffers with Schizophrenia and has a VERY flat affect hopped on my bike (I had only had it about a month at the time - full carbon) one day and went for a ride. It was all I could do not to run after him and yell nooooooooooooooo, my BIKE! It wasn't a graceful ride, either, but surely one I will remember!

[spokewench]

So Sorry Mr. Silver. I am thinking about you and your family. It is just so hard

[Hub]

I am sorry for your loss, yet impressed by your personal grace and dignity. It's hard to remember to put out loved one's needs first when we're afraid of being lonesome. You did an admirable job of providing comfort to your father.