Among Friends

[Sweet_Serenity]

Last year moved to Florida wanted to be closer to family. Dad 94 snowbird comes down from New Rochelle for the winters. Difficulty seeing small changes in him. Dad lived healthy lifestyle since his 30's. Independent to this day doing well. But! Short term memory starting to diminish. Love him so much. Grateful for the years,together with him.  WW2 Naval Officer "Cornell University Graduate" Decent human being. My point is life is so precious. Thank (GOD) For one more day. 

[KitTkat]

Indeed life is precious. We never know what a day may hold. My 85 year old grandma's health has been failing for several years. It's hard to watch, probably hard to endure for her, but each day is a gift from God. That difficult tomorrow will come, but in the meantime...

I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand. 

[Mom2Dogs]

So true, my grandma lived to 104.....she had very few health problems, we were blessed to have her for so long...she had lost all her children, 2 husbands, all her son in laws and 2 grandchildren!

@KitTkat...your last line, reminds of a song we used to sing in church, it is so true!  No longer are hymns sung in our church and I really miss those old songs.

[AuntG]

Yes, I can see why you are thankful for another good year. I hope you have discussed living arrangements should the day come when he can't live independently.

[Sweet_Serenity]

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@AuntGwrote:

Yes, I can see why you are thankful for another good year. I hope you have discussed living arrangements should the day come when he can't live independently.

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     Dad has the financial means affording him choices. He has options. 

[chrystaltree]

I hope for your father's sake you are doing more than just feeling grateful.  At 94, he's declining hence the memory loss and at 94, the changes often come incredibly fast.  I hope there's somone in New Rochelle who is close to him and sees him often and is able to offer assistance and support when he needs it.  I hope there's a plan in place if/when he isn't able to live independantly.  

[2blonde]

@Sweet_Serenity  Wow, it does sound like he's done very well so far, considering his advanced age.  I hope you will have many more good years with him, but I also think you may be very lucky if you have inherited those genes!

[Elri]

@Sweet_Serenity

Your father sounds like a wonderful man!  Graduate of Cornell, WOW!  Naval Officer WWII, WOW!   So fantastic!

I wish you many happy years with your sweet Dad. 

[Sweet_Serenity]

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@Elri wrote:

@Sweet_Serenity

Your father sounds like a wonderful man!  Graduate of Cornell, WOW!  Naval Officer WWII, WOW!   So fantastic!

I wish you many happy years with your sweet Dad. 

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   @Elri  

   

[libbyannE]

My heart goes out to you. Like so many, I have been through that stage recently with my dad, whom we lost last summer at age 95. He had a healthy, active life until the last year or so, so he knew, as did I, that he had everything to be grateful for. But that doesn't mean that we don't grieve as they change. Now, my mother is showing some minor mental weakness for the first time (again, we have been blessed) and was just diagnosed with heart failure. She is doing relatively well, all things considered, and I just spent yesterday with her. We enjoy each other so much, and apparently you have that relationship with your dad. How wonderful.  I know these changes are simply life, and I am grateful for all the healthy years (truly). I grew up knowing that my mom lost her Dad to illness when she was 12 and that her mother died of a stroke at only 56 before I was born, so to have had Dad til he was 95 and to be celebrating Mother's 92nd birthday next week is incredible.

You are so wise and it is so appropriate to feel gratitude. After Dad's burial, I tearfully told the minister how humbling it has been to have so many great people in my life, including my wonderful husband, my mother, and two "dads"--my beloved stepfather AND my great father. I was crying and said my heart was so full of gratitude that I could barely breathe at that moment. I asked the minister, "Why me? What have I done to be so blessed?" He replied simply and warmly, "Grace." Ok, yes, but I have had more than my share. It sounds as if your life is filled with blessings, too. I wish you many more happy moments with your dad.