Your Path to Self-Discovery!

Goodbye and May the Goddess Guide you...

Last Friday I said goodbye to my Stepfather, Don. He passed away on Friday night, at 822pm after a 2 year battle with Cancer. He was suffering and in so much pain, we had been hoping that the Goddess would take him soon to ease his pain.

Although the disease changed him as it progressed the memories I have of him are all from before it ravaged his body. I remember him always so happy to get new tools, working around the house - he loved tools - of all kinds. No leaking faucet, rusty door or leaning shelf was ever safe around him! He took such great joy in doing these tasks and seeing how happy you always were with the results. Every time something in my house broke, he always came over to take care of it - to try to fix it and improve it. He installed shower heads for me, even put a pet door in my garage steel door! He was very clever - and curious! He always wanted to see how things worked - how he could improve the existing designs!

What I will remember most about him was how good he was to my mom. He really loved her - a perfect gentleman. When they were out he was always the one holding doors and pulling out chairs. He always did things for her - and no matter how much they fought and argued - he never said one bad word to her. They did everything together - and I am thankful that they got a chance to travel so much, see different places and experience such joy together. I am thankful that she got to have a loving and caring companion for so long in him.

He was so full of life - and he fought this disease with every breath he had. He never accepted that it would win and for the first year - he was able to maintain a normal life by turning to alternative treatments and looking for new things. It was his inquisitive spirit that bought him a year of normal life even after the doctor's prognosis was not good. He continued on, beating it back and it seemed for a while that he was going to win the battle. In the end, although the cancer won, he also won in the sense that he never gave in and he was able to squeeze out every last minute of a normal life that he could. He did it all on his own terms.

When I walk into my mom's house now, I miss the "Hey Kiddo!" i used to hear from him. Always with a smile, always asking what my dog's latest adventures were - not because he was trying to be polite but because he really cared. Even later, when he was already unable to leave his bed and in pain - every time I walked through the door, I saw him smile and felt the warmth and good cheer of his presence. You couldn't help it - if you were in the same room with him, you could feel the joy he radiated to everyone. Although all we could do was watch movies by that time, since he could not leave the bed, having him there with us, was comforting and happy. He was still laughing and making jokes at the characters in the movie and at times you were able to forget all that was happening and all seemed normal.

It is strange and sad to think that I won't be seeing him anymore - that I won't be hearing his voice, asking his ideas on how to fix things or hearing him tell me about the newest tool he just found. I know that it was his time and I know that he is better now without all of the pain and suffering he had - but a little part of me is selfish and wishes he was still here to share moments and joys with us.

And now I ask the Goddess to guide him and keep him - to take his spirit in her arms and help him and protect through this new journey. I ask for her to comfort us who were left behind, so that we are are able to heal from this pain of loss, and also begin a new journey in our lives. Although he may not be walking by out side anymore, his memory will live in our hearts and his spirit will guide us and watch over us as we complete our journey on this physical plane as well.

Goodbye Don - we will miss you - may your light shine brightly into the Summerland, and may your spirit find the peace and happiness you brought into our lives!