my father died this morning.

[charlie_the_tuna]

holy sh!t. i never thought i would see this phrase come from me. it's still very surreal to me as i never really accepted the fact that we would ever really lose him. he was always the bada$$ of fathers. he was a champion bodybuilder in his youth and he was always big and muscular and the strength of my family. he had bypass surgery, i guess around 10 or so years ago and he was just never the same after. he was still his ornery, cranky stubborn self, but physically he just slowly went downhill. last couple years he would just sit around and sleep all day and refused to go to his doctors appointments and his physical therapy. he eventually started using a walker and his eyesight had been getting progressively worse. i guess he just gave up and stopped fighting.
my parents are snowbirds and he had been breaking my balls last few years to come down to florida to visit when they were down there. as we hadnt been on a vacation in years we finally gave in, and even though we couldnt afford it he wanted to spend time with my boys down there. i spoke to him a couple days ago because he was giving my mom a hard time about doctors and therapy. i told him to stop breaking everybodys balls and listen to the doctors. she didnt let on that he was this bad. she led me to believe that this was just another hospital visit.
i'm still in shock and i dont know what to do. i cant believe my father is gone. how do you recover from something like this? how does life ever seem normal again?

[RidgeRunner]

Godspeed to him and prayers sent to you and your family. Never easy. "Time heals all" is not very comforting. The hurt does fade in time. I lost my dad at 6 yrs old. I knew he was sick and gone but I never mourned the loss until I was old enough to understand. Hang in there.

[chumbucket]

Wow. I'm very sorry for your loss there Bud. I remember some pictures you posted of you and your Dad fishing with the kids. You could just tell from the pics that he was a proud Dad and Grandpa.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Sorry to hear that CTT, I lost my father 9 years ago now and your right it just isn't the same afterwards. It sounds like he is in a better place now as no man that lived his life like you described wants to see them selves go downhill like that. You just have to remmeber him as he was and all of those times from the past.

[tsubaki]

Sorry to hear that.
Hang in there, you've got a lot fixing to be placed on your shoulders if you're their oldest or even if you're not.
You don't recover, life's gonna be different, you deal with it, that's as close as it gets.
Family takes care of family.
How about that picture of y'all in the boat?

[randlemanboater]

Praying for you and your family CTT.

[Road King Cole]

Oh man, I am VERY sorry. It must really suck to have it a "surprise". Both my parents died in the last few years, but it was a few months of shaky hospital time for each. But then that emotional freakin roller coaster ride sucked too.

Sorry, but it took me a long time to accept it, nor really sure if I am over it. I still miss mine more than I would have ever thought.

What you need to do now is take care of your mom.

my sincere sympathy to you and your family.

rkc

[RWilson2526]

Sorry to hear the news Charlie....like the guys are saying its something you will be aware of the rest of your life... You'll get back into your routine soon enough and go about raising your family but there will always be days were you think about it and say man this sucks.

[CaptJ]

So sorry, God bless him and your family.

[chumbucket]

Found one thread with some pics.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=63&highlight=pops

[Stinky_Hooker]

I cant say i know how you feel, but you are in my prayers!

[Destroyer]

CTT...My deepest condolances to you and your family. Lost my dad on Jan 1, 2000, and it still hurts. Wish there was somehthing I could say to ease the pain. :sad: My prayers are with you and with him.

[jeffmo]

Charlie,I'm sorry to hear about your loss.prayers to you and your family.
Although you do not know me I will tell you that you will recover and your life will most certainly go on.Time is the only thing in this world that heals the hurt you're feeling right now.the hurt will definately go away in time and what will replace the hurt will be your memories of your Father.surround yourself with your family and close friends for support and you'll find comfort with them.
In 1986,in a 2 month time period,I lost both of my parents and it was the absolute hardest thing I had ever dealt with.no words could ever describe just how badly it hurt because they were amazing people. but the same words of advice that i have given to you were given to me back then by an elderly family friend and every word he spoke to me ended up being very true,the hurt doesn't last.

[aussie]

sorry to hear about it charlie be strong you have a family too to look after

[reelapeelin]

Like Ridge, I lost my dad early too...only 4 when he died so I really don't have any memories....so you got it all over me...spend time remembering his life and the things he did FOR you and the things he did WITH you...be glad you had the time w/him you did and like RKC said, help your mom thru this..she was with him longer than you, knew him from a whole different perspective...mourn him...miss him...but dwell on the good times and the things you learned by being his son...

Best to you and your family...

[phatdaddy]

i guess we're all getting to that age, lost my dad 16 months ago and my mom 2 & 1/2 years ago. like stated above, take care of your mom. my dad was in relatively good health, he just lost his drive after mom went. she'll say she's fine, but keep her busy and in the loop. i think about my parents every day, woulda , coulda , shoulda, etc.

once again, sorry for your loss.

[macojoe]

Sorry to hear!! I have no words of wisdom here as I have both mom and dad, but they getting old, mom 73 dad soon to be 75.

As you know my mom is on the way this year if the Doc is right and I am already falling apart watching her going thur the crap!

prayers sent!!

[Hedge]

Condolences from our family to yours

[willy]

My condolences my friend.
I lost mine when I was 17, you do not ever get over it. I find I think about him still at age 57 just about every day in some small way.
You learn to cherish memories.
Be as good of a man as he was for your kids.
But you will think of him.
In the end that is not a bad thing.

[lumberslinger178]

I'm sorry to hear this bud ... but I know exactly how you feel ... I still cry when I'm alone it makes me feel better.... my dad passed dec 10th and I don't think any of us get over the loss of anyone passing.

Hang in there for your wife and kids and especially your mom.

[nipper]

My sympathies to you on your loss. You will forever feel the loss, but you will forever be his legacy and reflect the type of guy he was.

[Cam]

Very sorry to hear this. My condolences to you and your family. The pain never actually goes away and I still to this day sometimes say to myself,"let me ask dad, he will know what to do". It is hard to get over that he will not be there to ask anymore. Again, very sorry.

[the daydreamer]

So sorry for your loss. My father passed on 12/28/09.my brother and i were on the way to pick him up to go to a cancer dr,when i got a call the he had fallen and was at the hospital!!! When i got to the hospital i saw my brother,a doctor and another person. My brother looked at me and said he's gone. I looked at him and said gone were?? He had a massive heart attack and passed away. I to was in shock!!!! He was 90 years young with no real problems untill that morning. It is hard enough to loose a parent when you know they are ill. But it is another thing when your hit from left field!! Theres not a day that goes by that i dont think about him. Time will cure all and you will get better. Think about the good times and cheerish them with all that you are. Best reguards to you and your family!!!!!

[step up here]

Marc,I'm very sorry to hear about your dad,prayers to you and your family.

[lathehand]

Sorry for your loss.It's never easy to say good bye to a loved one

[yodaddy]

Condolences for the loss of your Dad.

[Shawsee]

Charlie,

I am so sorry at your loss my friend. If he was anything like you then he surely was a great man. Hang in there buddy.

[BuilderFL]

Charlie, To bury your parent is to bury a substantial part of your past -- and that is a significant loss. I know, I did it back in 09/09/09. But he left this world a son as fine as the man that you are, and that is no small accomplishment. For that alone we wish we could have known him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.

[charlie_the_tuna]

gentlemen, i am truely humbled by the outpouring of genuine care, concern and emotion regarding my great loss. i am absolutely honored to call each and every one of you friend. on sunday i will say my final goodbye to my idol and my hero. my father and i were very close and i will miss talking to him tremendously. he taught me to be the man i am today. i dont know if thats a good thing but he was proud of me and that was all that mattered. i still cant believe he's gone.
lumber, i thought of you while posting this thread, as i too was 1,000 miles from my dad when he passed. i spoke to him a few days before and the last thing my father ever said to me was "i miss those boys". he lived for my boys and couldnt wait to spend time with them in florida.
chum, thank you for posting that thread with the pictures of my dad. that wasnt the last time we fished together but it was special nonetheless. we spent many hours together both on and off the water and he taught me everything i ever needed to know and i hope to teach my boys in much the same way.
my father touched everyone he came in contact with and the support being shown for my family is truely heartwarming.
i'm trying to keep busy but i know eventually i'm gonna just fall apart. i'll most likely be deep in depression after my father is laid to rest so ill catch up with you guys in a few.
again, from the bottom of my heart, i say thank you each and every one.
peace.

[bradford]

Hang in there Bro. You're about to have a whirlwind of emotions. It changes you. I think about my Dad every day. Try to do what you think he would want. Realize that all the emotions take their toll on everyone involved and try to be there for the rest of your family, especially your mom. God bless.

[spareparts]

Keep your head up Charlie, were all here for you if needed

[parishht]

My condolences Charlie, I feel your pain, I recently lost a close aunt and my wife lost her mother, both were sudden and unexpected.

[Redneck]

The loss of another boy hood hero. Very sorry to hear about your dad.

[Blue_Runner]

Been out of pocket for a few days. Very sorry to hear about your dad CTT. Sincere condolences from NC buddy.

[cfelton]

Really sorry to hear about your Dad! I lost my dad 32 years ago and I still think about and talk about him every day that goes by. It takes alot of time to accept the change in your life. When dad passed it really changed my whole world. I was young and had to grow up fast. I still miss him very much and find myself talking to him alot when Im alone or troubled. Prayers sent to you and your family.