Always .......

Early this year, I was feeling upbeat about greeting 2015 as written in this post here, despite some tragedies that had befallen the country.

Well that did not last long ... I lost my father recently. He would have been 83 in April.
My father suffered a stroke 15 years earlier which resulted in dementia or short-term memory loss. He did not lose his mobility from the stroke and was still bouyant, although there were depressive moments. He had good recollection of what he did many, many years before but nothing at all about what he had for breakfast.

My usual conversation with him would be about his exploits when he was younger.  He liked to tell that to anyone who is willing to listen.  I followed along with him as if I had only heard it for the first time, even though he had told them numerous times before.

His favourite to tell was the time  he went to Honolulu to teach Bahasa Melayu to future Peace Corp volunteers.  That was in the late 60s.  From Hawaii, he went on to San Francisco and then to New York, before returning home.  I was about 9 or 10 yo at that time. Later, after he had returned, I remembered that a few of the volunteers that he taught visited us at home. Unfortunately, I can only remember one that we used to call Uncle Bill; can't remember his actual name now.

Our last conversation was about how he was made to learn Japanese when the country was occupied during WWII.  He rattled off some Japanese pharases that he could still remember and even sang a few lines from the songs that they were taught to sing.
I will cherish those moments.

Goodbye and al-Fatihah.

Comments

  1. I am sorry Jon. It's good that you have precious memories of your father to treasure. Thanks for sharing some of them.

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  2. I'm so sorry for your loss, Jon. My father passed seven years ago, and I still have moments when I long to talk with him. More often though, I think of some wonderful memory and a smile comes to my face. I hope your happy memories help you through this difficult time.

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  3. My condolences to you and your loved ones. May you have the strength of fond memories always .

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  4. So sorry to hear of the loss of your father. You were fortunate to have him close all those years, and have such fond memories with him. Peace to you.

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  5. So sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful man.

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  6. I am sorry for your loss, Jon. Thinking about you.

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  7. Cherish the good memories. Keeping you in my thoughts

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  8. Sending you a big hug. ((())) Very sorry to hear of your loss. No matter how long we have them with us, no matter how old we are at the time, it is very painful to lose a parent. My sympathy and best wishes to you.

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  9. So sorry for your loss. It is wonderful that you have such memories of him. No matter that we know our parents will go before us does not change the feelings of loss and sadness when it happens. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time.

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  10. I'm so sorry to hear about your father...no matter how long we have them, it's just never long enough, is it? Having good memories is a comfort, I think. Big hugs for you and your family.

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  11. OH!!! JON, cuánto lo siento! Recibe mi más sentido Pésame. Con cariño, desde ARGENTINA: Pilar.

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  12. So sorry for your loss. May God bring peace to you and your family.

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear about your father's death - it's always a shock when a parent dies, even though he had been unwell for such a long time. But you were able to be with him as much as you possibly could, during those years, and it's good that he doesn't have to suffer any longer.

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  14. Condolences for your loss.

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  15. So very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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  16. My deepest sympathies, Jon. May he never fade from your memories and always be close at heart.

    ~Heidi in Minnesota

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  17. Hugs to you, Jon. May you be comforted by all the happy memories.

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  18. Sorry to hear of your loss Jon. Thinking of you.

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