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My father is deathly ill, sitting helplessly in a hospital room, tubes attached to every part of his body. He's 86 years old, was part of the Greatest Generation, served our wonderful country proudly during WWII and actually had to sneak in. They denied him because of a double heart murmur, but somehow he managed to get in anyway. Those were the days when your country called you to duty and you proudly served. Thoise were the days when everybody was behind our leaders, when you couldn't sacrifice enough, when we had victory gardens, rationing and war bonds. Those were the days when Hollywood stars went and actually SUPPORTED our brave soldiers, when Hollywood stars also served proudly and PROMOTED the war effort. Those were the days when being an American meant that you were in the greatest country on planet Earth and BELIEVED you were in the greatest country on planet Earth. After the war my father spent his entire life as a business consultant. His savvy decision making skills saved many American businesses MILLIONS of dollars. Many of you may have actually had a direct benefit by those decisions. He was a small man of large stature, never drank or did illegal drugs, NEVER lied to anybody in his life, NEVER hit any of his children or his beautiful wife who is by his side as I write this. You may never know the greatness of this man who I've had the God given privilege of knowing my entire life, someone who I have spoken to nearly every day of my life. He has been remarkably healthy for the last 80 years. His illness came on suddenly like a sledgehammer. He may not survive very long. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. My mother had two miscarriages before I was born, and if either had been born healthy they never would have had me. My parents were going to stop with three children. (I am the youngest of their three children). I know this isn't a musical post, but for those on here who know me a little bit I am writing a tribute to my father who is one of God's miracle workers. It was MILLIONS of people like him over 60 years ago who made YOUR very existence possible by their sacrifices. Don't EVER forget it...

Sorry to hear about your Dad.

I've lost count of the people I've lost through this and that but they all deserve merit and mention but I will not here. Life unfortunately gives us another option. You and you your folks will know how best to spend this time.

Hope I am not interfering? I don't think we've spoken before?

Keep safe. we never any of us, ever leave this place.

Chippy.

Bob, I am so sorry to hear that. Your story literally brought me to tears. You are very lucky to have a DAD like that. The generation he is from are when men were real men. My Dad passed away 2 years ago this September. I loved my dad because he was my dad but I am sorry to say he really didn't care much about his family. I have spent the last 50 years recuperating from the emotional damage he caused me. I finally made peace with him just before he died. I hope and pray your father gets better.

Got the big guy on standby and he says that "all will be ok, just have a little faith."

Remember it's always darkest before the dawn.

Bob.
May God bless and keep your Father. He sounds much like my own Father. I pray his passing, if indeed it is his time. Will be as mercifull to him as he has been to all of US.
It is one of the hardest things men face in life. The passing of our Fathers.
You will forever stand beside him. Of that I am sure.

Sorry, bob. I'm sure that he knows how much you love him, & that's bound to help him on his journey.

Be well in your grief.

Bob, you did your dad a great service by just posting this and letting us all know how wonderful he has been to his family, his country, and to all of us in a round about way. I am lucky enough to still have my father (82) with me, but his health has declined a bit over the past few years. It's hard to think about them passing, but when the reality is there, the best you can do is let them know how much you love and respect them and you've done that here. God be with you, and him.

fisherman bob wrote:*snip*
Those were the days when Hollywood stars went and actually SUPPORTED our brave soldiers, when Hollywood stars also served proudly and PROMOTED the war effort.

My best wishes to you and your family.
Speaking of hollywood stars actually supporting our troops, remember the Andrew Sisters? I bought the entire set of Abbott and Costello movies (they were my childhood's best Saturday morning memories) and the Andrew Sisters were in a few of those movies. My daughter and I often sit down to those movies ... they were very talented and fun to listen to, and you're very right when you say it was a generation that loved America and sacrificed everything to keep America safe. I wish I grew up in that era - call me old fashioned, but somewhere between then an now, it seems American talent spends all of its energy hating America. Truly is disheartening. I apprecaite your father and his service Bob, even if I don't know him personally, I know his character and love him for that.

Best to you and yours,
Chris & daughter Sarah who loves that generation too

Best thing I can wish him is a painless passing and you, serenity.

Thanks for all your kind words....

So sorry to hear that, Bob... what's funny is my dad was a WWII vet also. He was a gunnery Sgt. He died of cancer but he just died in his sleep... just like that... no hospitals... no long term suffering.... just died! when they did an autopsy, they said he was riddled with cancer... he was stubborn and probably just sat there and lived with the pain without letting us know!

That's how I want to go out.

In my sleep, riddled with disease
ready to leave this world in one giant strip tease.

That's Not My Father
the gray, gray, creature
moaning and clutching
in the bed
that's not my father
my father
cuts lawns and climbs trees
can fix anything
barks loudly when aroused
and loves, lives really
to dance

acquiescent soul
desperately grasping
at answers correct
to the doctor's questions
that's not my father

my father
plants a garden to feed the multitudes
family, mostly
drinks beer, reads newspapers
and loves, really loves
his sons

sweet, rumpled, man
a prisoner of this place
of tubes and metal and machine
that's not my father

my father
is still out there somewhere
knows his family, job, life
is not lost among the grounds
of his own mind
that's not my father
lying there in that bed
that is not my father.

Sorry about your father Bob.

I still have my grandfather 87 who served also. My father just turned 66 yesterday, so I guess I am blessed in those regards.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

John W

Blessings to you and yours Bob.