TRANQUIL HOURS
Dad is sleeping most of the time now.
His face is VERY peaceful.
We all sit at his bedside and simply talk together for hours; listening to him breathe.
Occasionally he surprises us with some words, a smile, or a soft chuckle.
Those are the most rewarding moments.
The hospice chaplain blessed him yesterday morning and prayed with us.
We also requested a visit from a priest to give Dad the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (formerly called Last Rites). Both were comforting to us as a family.
METEOR SHOWERS
Dad and I loved to talk astronomy and marvel at the vastness of the Universe. We would share mindblowing Universe facts with one another and just try to wrap our heads around them together. In the last month, I shared with him a Universe tidbit we were both unable to comprehend. Every chance I get, I watch "How the Universe Works" on the SciFi channel, on which an astrophysicist said essentially this:
We have a sun at the center of our solar system; it is a star.
There are BILLIONS of stars, just like our sun, in our galaxy... the Milky Way.
There are BILLIONS of galaxies, just like our Milky Way, in the Universe.
To put that in perspective... there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on planet Earth.
WHOA. Just think of that profound energy, that immeasurable grandeur, we are all a part of!
Tonight, Saturday, August 11th, the Perseid Meteor Shower will be visible in the SF Bay Area, reaching its peak after 11pm Pacific Time. A few dozen meteors will streak the sky per hour. If you can, please look for those ethereal lights tonight and think of Dad. We will all be holding Richard in our hearts at the very same time.
Erika, I love your writing and your ability to capture these profound and final moments you're having with your dad. It's so painful and yet so amazing to know that you're spending his final days with him. What a gift from God that you're being given that privilege - everything can be said and felt. We never have enough time with the people we love, and yet it is that very fact that makes life such a grand and wild adventure. We love you and Russ so much and continue to pray for you both and your dad.
ReplyDeleteSending you all of my love, support, and prayers, Dick and family. Thank you for the many years of wonderful memories and the friendship you have shown both myself and my family. I will cherish those times always. You are all in my heart and thoughts. Much love, Rachel
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