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Tuesday 27th February 2024.
A Birthday.
My dear husband turned 75. We had shared celebrations with our kids and their kids on the previous weekend as all could attend. It was a relaxed and fun time and my husband who resists the attention, was able to share in ‘being in the photos’.
He was visited by his two kids and had well-wishes by phone and in person but…the birthday will, for me, always have an added significance.
A Death.
Dad died on this day.
Dad had been very unwell and slowly actively dying in a palliative way at the hospital where he’d been admitted the previous week. I’d said my farewell to him on the Sunday 2 days earlier, and we had been told, as he slowly slipped away thanks to the protocols of advanced care plans, he could die in the next 24-48 hours. My brother chose to be there on that Tuesday to ‘accompany’ our Dad as his final signs of life subsided and stopped.
A Student Leader Appointed.
E, who is our daughter’s youngest and a very diligent student in her last year of primary school had been on tenterhooks awaiting the very big announcement by the school principal that day, and it happened. And the school was on Morning Breakfast TV and she got to speak too. She came to our house later, with her Mum, to wish her Papa “Happy Birthday” and to listen to the news updates with her mum about her Great Grandfather’s Death.
And Some Really Ordinary Stuff Happened too:
quote for screen doors
air conditioning check
cooking a meal
and time for reflection….I needed that.
But of course, once Dad’s death became a reality, I admit there was a LOT on.
The calendar became very full.
We, my brother and I, were always aware of Dad’s wishes around his end of life wishes, funeral and farewell because we talked about it with him and he finalised all that he felt he wanted with the solicitor who drew up his most recent will and other papers some years before.
I admit it was very busy time but as a record keeper, photograph taker and diary writer, I could add more.
But I am choosing not to do that now.
Ending with some music. A favourite of Dad’s which formed part of his 90th Birthday celebrations in 2014.
Let’s Dance by Benny Goodman. Dad loved his music!
I may write more at another time but this post does mark a very special day for
What’s Been On My Calendar.
Thank you to the team who run link up, What’s Been On Your Calendar.
Deb
Sue
https://www.womenlivingwellafter50.com.au
Jo
Donna
https://retirementreflections.com
Happy memories are the things that get us through times of grief and sometimes a thought will pop into your head out of the blue months and years later that will reignite those feelings.
Take care
Deb (from Deb’s World UK)
Thanks for sharing this very personal time Denyse and I continue to wish you well as you grieve and record all that you need to about these times. Take care x