Quote:
Originally Posted by wdfifteen
I don't want to get too technical, but how do you feel changed? I remember when my dad died, I realised I was suddenly (as the oldest person in my family) the family patriarch. A whole generation had thought of my dad as the family leader, and suddenly the leader was me. All of a sudden I wasn't a son any more. The change was subtle, but feels so profound. All my life I was this man's son, and now for a few years I was to take his place at the head of the table.
Sorry for the hijack.
|
No worries. That's certainly a part of it. Another part is the total role reversal. I'm 57, he's 99, and for all of his life he felt, right or wrongly, that he had to look out for me. Now, in his hour of darkness, I'm looking out for him. Because its been so darn long, its maybe particularly hard.
But what I meant by changed was more about just walking very close to the precipice with him, looking over the edge, and telling him it was ok to jump.
I'm agnostic, so its odd that I find this so profound, but there you go.
And I love all you guys, and do appreciate the kind words. But I don't deserve them nearly as much as guys like Fred who have lost children.