Beautifully written Derek. I'm in public eating lunch at the moment or I would've been crying my eyes out reading it. Good for you and your Dad that you were able to have those last exchanges. It shows how powerful the bond between you was and you'll be able to remember that for the rest of your own time.
Stay upbeat and proactive about your own health. I look forward to the next golf gathering and expect you to be in top form.
in all seriousness that may be some of your best writing, DJ. My dad was born the same year and has lived an amazing life. His health is deteriorating quickly and it is hard for me to align who he is now with who he once was.
Thanks for sharing this with us. It struck a chord.
I was having an early lunch and dialed up HCH, and had my waitress asking if I was ok. Heartfelt condolences to you, Derek. All the best on your recovery…
Man, this hit like a ton of bricks. My condolences for your loss and everything you’ve been going through lately. Wishing you better days ahead.
I think it’s really easy to dehumanize people on a message board and forget that they have real shit going on in their lives every single day. I’ll admit this post caught me completely off guard and really brought me back to reality.
Derek, even if I had the eloquence of @ShakespeareDawg, I doubt I could adequately express just how heartbroken I am for you and your family right now.
As others have mentioned, I’m glad you and your father were able to have some good conversations before he passed.
And as trite as these words are, I’m going to say them anyway - please reach out if you need anything.
Nothing but good thoughts and wishes your way Derek … wonderfully worded tribute … one more thing for your Dad to be proud of.
And, if it helps …
My dad passed away 19.5 years ago.
On the day of his passing, he been at my house holding his newborn grand-daughter, (who was 5 months old at the time) then he went home, had a heart attack, and was gone. He was 63. Came out of nowhere.
I struggled with grief for several months before a friend of mine gave me some good advice that he had been told when his father passed away. He told me, "you'll never get OVER the grief, but you'll learn how to live with it".
I took that to heart and tried to learn how to live with it. Now, I look forward to the times when I am reminded of him during the day. I look at those memories less as grief, and more as reminders of how fortunate I was to have him in my life and as a reminder of where I come from.
When I started to embrace those feelings of loss, as opposed to suppressing them, it helped me view them as positives and less as negatives.
I feel his loss every day, but I use those feelings to give me a boost and to reinforce my feelings of thankfulness for having had him in my life.
You know you've got the right type of friends in your life when you find yourself at the lowest of lows, and in your darkest hour, your cell phone pings, and you pick it up to see that JoeEDangerously has sent a gif of Elaine from Seinfeld singing GET WELL, GET WELL SOON… WE WANT YOU TO GET WELL!
Thanks for making my eyeballs sweat for the third time in a week, fucker.
I lost both my parents exactly a month apart and wasn't able to be there —- not to be cliched, but looking back, there is a lot to be thankful for in his last names.
You've faced everything like a man, and I'm glad you're my friend.
Comments
Shame on you. Sterile but sincere, I don't do AI.
For Ron:
when he was born, Race was there
Beautifully written Derek. I'm in public eating lunch at the moment or I would've been crying my eyes out reading it. Good for you and your Dad that you were able to have those last exchanges. It shows how powerful the bond between you was and you'll be able to remember that for the rest of your own time.
Stay upbeat and proactive about your own health. I look forward to the next golf gathering and expect you to be in top form.
in all seriousness that may be some of your best writing, DJ. My dad was born the same year and has lived an amazing life. His health is deteriorating quickly and it is hard for me to align who he is now with who he once was.
Thanks for sharing this with us. It struck a chord.
My brain immediately went to fast times as well. I must be a very shallow person.
I was having an early lunch and dialed up HCH, and had my waitress asking if I was ok. Heartfelt condolences to you, Derek. All the best on your recovery…
Definitely not the kind of couch sale I want to read about — I'm so sorry for your loss Derek, stay strong.
Ron definitely lurked here to know what this place is about, best mod NA bar none.
Man, this hit like a ton of bricks. My condolences for your loss and everything you’ve been going through lately. Wishing you better days ahead.
I think it’s really easy to dehumanize people on a message board and forget that they have real shit going on in their lives every single day. I’ll admit this post caught me completely off guard and really brought me back to reality.
This has been about as rough a couple weeks for someone as you can imagine. We’re all pulling for you Derek… even Jen Cohen probably.
So sorry to hear this brother. Even when it seems inevitable, you can never fully prepare for it. Praying for you and your family.
Derek, even if I had the eloquence of @ShakespeareDawg, I doubt I could adequately express just how heartbroken I am for you and your family right now.
As others have mentioned, I’m glad you and your father were able to have some good conversations before he passed.
And as trite as these words are, I’m going to say them anyway - please reach out if you need anything.
XOXO, DDJ
Nothing but good thoughts and wishes your way Derek … wonderfully worded tribute … one more thing for your Dad to be proud of.
And, if it helps …
My dad passed away 19.5 years ago.
On the day of his passing, he been at my house holding his newborn grand-daughter, (who was 5 months old at the time) then he went home, had a heart attack, and was gone. He was 63. Came out of nowhere.
I struggled with grief for several months before a friend of mine gave me some good advice that he had been told when his father passed away. He told me, "you'll never get OVER the grief, but you'll learn how to live with it".
I took that to heart and tried to learn how to live with it. Now, I look forward to the times when I am reminded of him during the day. I look at those memories less as grief, and more as reminders of how fortunate I was to have him in my life and as a reminder of where I come from.
When I started to embrace those feelings of loss, as opposed to suppressing them, it helped me view them as positives and less as negatives.
I feel his loss every day, but I use those feelings to give me a boost and to reinforce my feelings of thankfulness for having had him in my life.
Man this board has gone soft.
I might have to send some of you to the Gulag when I'm feeling up to it.
But seriously, thank you to everybody.
ok fine.
Brad. What would you say if I told you to put these in the trunk of the cruising vessel.
I’d say, who the hell is Ron Johnson.
Happy now?
You know you've got the right type of friends in your life when you find yourself at the lowest of lows, and in your darkest hour, your cell phone pings, and you pick it up to see that JoeEDangerously has sent a gif of Elaine from Seinfeld singing GET WELL, GET WELL SOON… WE WANT YOU TO GET WELL!
Look what you have created.
Thanks for making my eyeballs sweat for the third time in a week, fucker.
I lost both my parents exactly a month apart and wasn't able to be there —- not to be cliched, but looking back, there is a lot to be thankful for in his last names.
You've faced everything like a man, and I'm glad you're my friend.
Godspeed.
Way to rep the north Puget Sound! We’ll be rootin for ya!
Seriously though, you’re in my prayers. There may be some light profanity involved in those.
If dad was reviewing my list of his favorite players, he would have chastised me for leaving off Billy Joe Hobert and Mark Brunell