Eckhart Tolle - I believe.
My father slipped away, peacefully and unexpectedly in the early hours of New Year's Day, 2014. My sister Anne, had been up to visit him that evening and he was sitting in the dining room at St Ann's having dinner, she went back to his room with him afterwards and was talking about someone they both knew and Dad seemed to recognise the name. She then left and then my sister Jenny received a telephone call from St Ann's saying that when they checked him at about 1am he had slipped away, peacefully in his sleep.
As our Dad was 91 and in failing health, it is a blessed release for him and I am very grateful that he is not struggling on for us. He tricked us instead! In the nicest possible way. I would like to die peacefully in my sleep before I am too infirm either physically or mentally, as those of us who have had to think about it probably would too.
It was lovely to catch up with my family and especially my Dad for Christmas Day and have lunch with all the family who are in Tasmania at St Ann's. Dad loved family gatherings and celebrating anniversaries of the living and the dead.
The last big family gathering was for Dad's 90th birthday in 2012. My sister Kathryn and her children Sophie and Tommy came out from Ireland especially, and our only two cousins Margaret and Ken from Melbourne came over as well. As the photo below shows, we had a lovely night.
I only have words of praise for the staff at St Ann's. They have only shown patience and kindness with Dad and with us, and I thank them very much for that.
Dad has been a very active and well respected member of the community and I know that we will not be the only ones to miss him.
No comments:
Post a Comment