Like Popeye says, "I yam what I yam".
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I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately. I'm sure its because
of Gary's death. And the thought of them meeting up again is interesting
to imagine.My dad's name is Bill (William), but all us kids ever heard my mom call him was Bob because that's the nickname he lived under all his life from his family. I guess it comes from his older sister not being able to say 'baby' clearly. It came out more akin to 'Bobby', so Bob he was to his family.
Professionally he was Bill of course, and I am trying to think if I ever heard Gary address him as Bill or Bob. We always said, "my dad", "your dad".
My dad liked Gary and Gary liked my dad a lot. Gary never gushed over anyone by saying, "I LOVE that guy!" Nope, the highest praise I ever heard him give another man was, "He's a pretty good guy". My dad was a "pretty good guy" per Gary.
Lung cancer took my dad in '93. I remember lying in bed in our house on Dudley Lane. Neither Gary nor I were sleeping because it was the day that my dad's funeral had taken place. I was crying and I said, "I realize now that the ONLY important thing in life is FAMILY". Gary had tears running down his face too. He said, "I know." and we just held hands and we cried for the loss of my dad and his father-in-law.
So I imagine Gary and my dad meeting up again after Gary makes it through Peter's TSA security screeners. What a relief that he doesn't have all of those irritating implanted tubes, the port, or a metal cane to deal with for the x-ray anymore!
My dad sees Gary first:
Dad: Gary! Wow! Never thought I'd see you here so soon! Man, you were too young, but hey, you sure got a lot done while you were there! Great to see you!
Gary: Hi Bill, so good to see you too-You are looking great! I never expected to see you again and especially not this soon!
Dad: Damn that cancer, huh.
Gary: Damn is right! At least I didn't have to drag it out at the end. The last day, I was soooo ready.
Dad: I know what you mean. So many people here with that pancreatic cancer. Its almost like they don't want to cure it down there. Companies are making too much money off of the people!
Gary: Exactly. Marsha always said after it took you that she thought lung cancer was the ugliest cancer. We both found out otherwise.
Dad: Sorry you had to leave Marsha down there so early. I know its gonna be tough on her, but...
Gary: I agree, I felt so bad for her. I used to cry for HER, not ME. I really didn't want to leave her. We just didn't expect it to end so fast.
Dad: Well, your worries are over now. You can rest assured Marsha and Darlene and everyone else will get along without us in the best way they know. The other kids and your family; they'll all look out for each other.
Gary: You know, we found out months ago, how great they are. My family has helped a lot and you have some great kids, Bill. Marsha and I are so grateful to have them.
Dad: Yep, I'm pretty happy with them at that! Those boys of yours sure did turn out great, huh! Sorry about Nathan, though... maybe he'll still come around.
Gary: I hope so, but I like told Marsha, You've gotta quit living in the past. Its gone and you can't do anything about it. Anyway, so what do you do here?
Dad: Whatever I'm told. But I gotta tell ya, I have a cherry position God has a job for everyone, and you KNOW he's going to use your many skills, but you'll love it. I get to sing. I always loved to sing when I was in the Elks Men's Choir and I have a much better voice up here. I also get to do what I do best: play practical jokes on the other firemen up here. We have a competition on who gets the other guys the most often and its a hoot!
Gary: I don't know very many people here yet.
Dad: Don't worry, because time doesn't run the same way here. You won't be waiting very long before you see some of the guys you've worked with start to Peter in--get it?
Gary: Hah! Bill, that sounds like something I'd come up with!
Dad: I will tell you that Mother, or Gladys, you know, she'll be excited to see you and Marsha's grandpa, Date, he will be coming around too to get reacquainted. He always thought the world of you when you both were IN the world!
Gary: Good! I suppose Gladys is still 4 feet tall?
Dad: Oh yes, and its a good thing you don't have to worry about your back going out on you up here when you bend over to hug her.
Gary: I've got to find my dad first thing too. Oh yeah, I've got a cousin, Jim and my aunt... Oh and a concrete contractor who used to do work for us. Hmmm, wonder if they have male dancing up here? Well anyway, I guess I do know some people here!
Dad: I can point you in the right direction and I guarantee you, everyone will be happy to help you and guide you around.
Gary: Thanks Bill, I feel so much better now. I'll be seeing you.
Dad: You too Gary, so very glad you made it. Oh hey Gary! Let me run this past you first:
Did you hear about the time Ole walked into the bar and saw Sven with Lena.......?
Now,
if our loved ones who have passed over can read this, they are probably
laughing their heads off at my writings. "Hah hah, she has it soooo
wrong, but I'll give her an A- for trying to imagine it." I'll take
their criticism, because I think my imagination is probably making the
afterlife much less wonderful than it actually is. That's what I'm
hoping for. Don't we all?
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