Sketch of Dad at home by GWW3.jpg (Size: 659.74 KB / Downloads: 55)

Today I spent the morning with my Dad and drew this sketch of him while he was watching TV. The drawing makes his face look longer than it really is, but I got the hair exactly right (if I do say so myself).

By the way, the eccentricities in his left hand are correct: he lost his little finger in a workshop accident many years ago, and his wrist has a permanent bump from a fracture that he chose not to have surgically repaired.

  100_0370.JPG (Size: 1.11 MB / Downloads: 52)

Today was my mother's birthday. I like this photo.

The rain this morning held off for us just right.

Thanks for sharing George

Rembering the kind thoughts that so many of you shared with earlier in the year, I feel compelled to alert you that my father has taken what may be a dramatic turn for the worse. In a general sense we have seen this coming for some time, but that does not make it much easier.

Two months ago we celebrated his 89th birthday, and in the months preceding that we didn't necessarily expect that he would see that milestone. So every day we have had with him this summer has been a blessing.

(09-07-2012 12:22 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Rembering the kind thoughts that so many of you shared with earlier in the year, I feel compelled to alert you that my father has taken what may be a dramatic turn for the worse. In a general sense we have seen this coming for some time, but that does not make it much easier.

Two months ago we celebrated his 89th birthday, and in the months preceding that we didn't necessarily expect that he would see that milestone. So every day we have had with him this summer has been a blessing.

Prayers for you and your family George

I am so sorry for you and your family George. You are all in my prayers

Prayers for you and your family. So sorry to hear the news.

While Rice begins its second century, my father is very near his end. He has stopped eating, drinking, or interacting with others; he is now simply sleeping and (as best we can tell) dreaming. Although his resilience this year and throughout his life has been remarkable, it is fair to say that he has at most a few days left.

As mentioned in some of my previous posts, Dad has had a complete and admirable life. When the time comes, he will be buried alongside my mother at Houston National Cemetery, under the flag of the nation he served and loved. Having shared half a century of earthly life with Mom, he will, as he has longed to do, rejoin her forever.

When my mother passed back in December, my wife and I took Dad into our house for about two months while we made preparations for him to live at home without her. Having Dad under our roof was taxing at times, but all in all it was one of the sweetest periods of my life. In late January, shortly after his beloved Crimson Tide won the national title in football, Dad moved back to his house, as was his wish.

Dad had a good spring and summer, some highlights being our outing in March to see the 70th anniversary screening of Casablanca; our visit in July to my mother's grave on what would have been her 80th birthday; and our quiet celebration the following week of Dad's 89th birthday, with a delicious New Orleans-style doberge cake that Dad loves.

Though Dad's abilities have declined more or less steadily, he has not (until very recently) experienced any suffering. I and all my family are grateful for these last ten months, which have been an irreplaceable time of some heartache but a great deal of joy.

We owe tremendous debts of thanks to the partners at my law firm, who have allowed me to spend a remarkable amount of time with Dad; to the CareTemps home care agency, whose magnificent caregivers and coordinators have not only made Dad's life at home a very good one, but have allowed my wife, my sister and me to enjoy Dad's company without having to be his nurses ourselves; to the physicians, clinical staff and therapists who have been so valuable to Dad and to us over the past year; and to our many, many friends -- including those who don't know Dad at all, but whose encouraging words, so kindly expressed, have been a strength and comfort to me. Thank you.

Dear old Dad. I will miss him.

George, both you mom and dad sound like very special people who had wonderful lives, made even more so by an obviously wonderful son. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

While certainly sad, I can't help but be in awe of the love and devotion you have to your parents and the obvious impression that they have made on you and your life. It is, perhaps, their greatest legacy... and I know you make them proud

George - thank you for sharing your journey. You are clearly very blessed to have such accomplished parents, and the love that you show in the process is evidence for that.

This may be premature, but this is a remarkable letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams upon the death of Abigail Adams, whose wisdom transcends the generations.

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams

http://www.beliefnet.com/resourcelib/doc...ams_1.html Wrote:MONTICELLO, November 13, 1818.

The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of October the 20th had given me ominous foreboding. Tried myself in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. The same trials have taught me that for ills so immeasurable, time and silence are the only medi­cine. I will not, therefore, by useless condolences, open afresh the sluices of your grief, nor, although mingling sincerely my tears with yours, will I say a word more where words are vain, but that it is of some comfort to us both, that the term is not very distant, at which we are to deposit in the same cerement, our sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we shall still love and never lose again. God bless you and support you under your heavy affliction.

George - my thoughts and prayers are with you during this trying time. As I was reviewing your posts, your admiration for your father makes me think of my dad, especially the part about Alabama winning the title. As you can tell, my connection to Rice was through him, and I spent many joyous times as a child traveling to Houston to watch the Owls play. The last real time I spent with him was watching the final game of the 2003 CWS. Months later, after we got the diagnosis, he told that it was OK, as having seen the Owls win the national title, he figured he had seen it all. Today is the ninth anniversary of his passing.

Again, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family after having such a tough year. And thank you for reminding me of some of the best times of my life.

(10-13-2012 07:45 AM)georgewebb Wrote:  While Rice begins its second century, my father is very near his end. He has stopped eating, drinking, or interacting with others; he is now simply sleeping and (as best we can tell) dreaming. Although his resilience this year and throughout his life has been remarkable, it is fair to say that he has at most a few days left.

As mentioned in some of my previous posts, Dad has had a complete and admirable life. When the time comes, he will be buried alongside my mother at Houston National Cemetery, under the flag of the nation he served and loved. Having shared half a century of earthly life with Mom, he will, as he has longed to do, rejoin her forever.

When my mother passed back in December, my wife and I took Dad into our house for about two months while we made preparations for him to live at home without her. Having Dad under our roof was taxing at times, but all in all it was one of the sweetest periods of my life. In late January, shortly after his beloved Crimson Tide won the national title in football, Dad moved back to his house, as was his wish.

Dad had a good spring and summer, some highlights being our outing in March to see the 70th anniversary screening of Casablanca; our visit in July to my mother's grave on what would have been her 80th birthday; and our quiet celebration the following week of Dad's 89th birthday, with a delicious New Orleans-style doberge cake that Dad loves.

Though Dad's abilities have declined more or less steadily, he has not (until very recently) experienced any suffering. I and all my family are grateful for these last ten months, which have been an irreplaceable time of some heartache but a great deal of joy.

We owe tremendous debts of thanks to the partners at my law firm, who have allowed me to spend a remarkable amount of time with Dad; to the CareTemps home care agency, whose magnificent caregivers and coordinators have not only made Dad's life at home a very good one, but have allowed my wife, my sister and me to enjoy Dad's company without having to be his nurses ourselves; to the physicians, clinical staff and therapists who have been so valuable to Dad and to us over the past year; and to our many, many friends -- including those who don't know Dad at all, but whose encouraging words, so kindly expressed, have been a strength and comfort to me. Thank you.

Dear old Dad. I will miss him.

Well, the time has come: My father passed away early this evening, at the age of 89.

His decline over the last 36 hours has been rapid. This afternoon, on the recommendation of our hospice nurse, I said a verbal goodbye to Dad while he could still hear and understand. I told him that he has been a wonderful Dad; that everything is taken care of; and that it is OK for him to go. I then mentioned that he will soon be with Mom, and that later we will all be together. He could not speak, but he nodded (as it were) with his eyes as if to say he understood and agreed. The appreciation in his eyes was palpable and deeply moving. Then I told him, as he told Mom at her burial ten months ago, "So long".

He slipped away in peace just an hour or two later.

For those interested, I can post further information on burial arrangements in a day or two.

Please do post, I'm in Las Vegas now and might miss any local notices.
And if Harry comes in, let me know, I would like to see him if possible.

George, your post was incredibly moving to me. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Your dad sounded wonderful, and you sound like a wonderful son.

Memorial arrangements for my father are as follows:

FUNERAL DETAILS
Levy Funeral Directors
4225 Bissonnet (near Newcastle)
Bellaire, Texas 77401
(713) 660-6633

Thursday, October 25, 2012
5:00-8:00 pm: Family will receive visitors at Levy funeral home

Friday, October 26, 2012
8:45 - 9:00 am: Those wishing to drive in procession to the cemetery should meet at Levy

10:00 am : Funeral with military honors
Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veterans Memorial Drive (just inside Beltway 8 [Sam Houston Tollway])
Houston TX 77038
http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/houston.asp

Lunch reception afterward

DONATIONS

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dad's memory may be made to:
Consortium on Aging
UT Health Science Center at Houston,
7000 Fannin St, UCT-1703,
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 500-5164
http://www.uthouston.edu/aging/donors.htm
or to a charity of choice.

The Consortium is directed by Dr Carmel Dyer, the gerontologist at UT who was Dad’s primary physician for the last several years.

OBITUARY

The online obituary and guest book are available here:
http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=ls000160469588

The obituary is expected to appear in the Houston Chronicle, New Orleans Times-Picayune, and Selma Times-Journal.

SPECIAL THANKS

The family extends profound thanks to the staff of the following organizations, who made it possible for George to spend the last eight months comfortably at home:

CareTemps (adult care agency)
Marilyn Drane, Director
9800 Northwest Freeway, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77092-8832
(713) 263-9440
http://www.caretemps.com

Hospice Compassus (hospice agency)
1770 St. James Place, Ste. 330
Houston, TX 77056
(713)-850-8853
(877) 575-7152
http://hospicecompassus.com/loc-TXHOUS.html

george,

i am so sorry for your loss and wish you peace.

Yes, George. I appreciated your sorrow for my mother's passing, and my prayers are now for you and your family.

For some reason I just realized that today is the anniversary of the day my sister and I took dear old Dad to see the 70th anniversary screening of Casablanca.

For me, and perhaps for Dad too, it was the sweetest day of the entire year.

It is really fun to think back on days like that.

Ahh, memories so sweet