A Tribute to My Dad

[Crankin]

May his memory be a blessing.

Robyn

[twin]

Bless your family at this time and I am glad you could be with him.

[Mr. Bloom]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and comments.

While we're sad, things are all good in Indiana.

[nonsmoker3]

I am so sorry for your loss. Take care and God bless.

[emily_in_nc]

Mr. Silver,

My deepest sympathies in the loss of your beloved father. I am envious, too, that you got to say goodbye and that your father passed so peacefully. I feel robbed since my own father died suddenly in a car accident. The grieving process is never easy, but a death like your father's leaves the survivors with much more peace and acceptance in their hearts.

I hope that peace will stay with you and your fond memories of your dad will bring you smiles and a warm heart from here on out.

Emily

[Xrayted]

((((Mr. Silver and family))))

[jeannierides]

Mr. Silver, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry your father is not with you anymore, and for all the sorrow and grieving that you will do (especially your mom). I'm at peace for him, as I know he was in much pain and needed to feel healthy and whole again on the other side. I'm glad he got to experience the sacrament of last rites- as his journey here on Earth came to an end. My prayers are with you and your family.

[BikeDutchess]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is such a difficult thing. I hope good memories and the support of family and friends will sustain you. My thoughts will be with you.

[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.