Monella 69

Remembering December 2005... I stand here before you today with great saddness yet strong determination to remininisce about my dad, the epitome of life...Today both my brother and I are mourning the death yet, celebrating the life of our father, our confidant, the man of steel. My dad was always applauding our successes and embracing us when we were downtrodden. He would often tell us to shake off the why's and what if's and to rid ourseleves of confusion. He would continue to say whatever was, is in the past...whatever is, is important. He would tell us to keep our heads up and cast our dreams to to the stars. He would tell us never give up when things got tough. It was he who sat tirelessly to find a satisfying conclusion to whatever it was that troubled, confused or pained us...he would say fear not and do right to always reach your goal. Be honorable but patient, the truth may not prevail today or tommorrow...you may feel let down, discouraged and perhaps defeated, but one day it will and you'll remember the moment you fought endlessly to prove it to the world. His words of encouragement are engraved in our hearts and minds forever and we often reflect back on those powerful words when things get tough. Our close relationship with our father was based on his unconditional love for us from birth and which is still with us in another place.Not only did his family adore my father, but his friends did as well. Our father made friends everywhere he went far and wide many of whom passed through over the past few nights sharing memories. If he loved you, you knew it. He was a brave man in that he never feared showing his emotions. Our father displayed courage and determination up until his final days fighting a valiant fight against the odds, embracing his own immortaility without shedding a tear as to not break the hearts of those he loved the most.Our father was a great man...but let us not forget that behind every great man is a great woman. His most precious relationship was with his pet, his best friend and life partner, our mother who nurtured him and took care of him better than a nurse up to the end. It was our mom who spent countless sleepless nights thinking of ways to comfort him, entice him to eat and who kept us altogether while caring for my dad. Where would I be without your mother he would always ask even knowing the answer to that question. Mom, you were his straightman ....you ensured that he played well to his audience. He NEVER had to worry about the nuts and bolts of living because he had you for that. After forty-nine and a half years of marriage our mother lost her best friend.Dad, keep your beliefs in death as you had in life and walk into your new journey. We hope you will find it magnificent, spectacular and beyond your wildest imaginings. This sentiment and these words will ALWAYS be current and true. They are just as LASTING and SURE as they are carved in our soul. Your greatest wish was to always be surrounded by by your family and friends. Look around dad...we are all here...We love you !!!"

Get Images at PhotoPox.com