When I Found Out My Father Was Mortal

Author: frogster
Word Count: 748
previous browse writing

When I Found Out My Father Was Mortal

Yes Im an old man and Im retired but for the past three years I have been going to college studing Computer Graphics. I wrote this story for an English class I was in about my father who passed away by losing his fight with cancer. This story was written from the heart.

When I Found Out My Father Was Mortal belongs to the following groups:

Dearly Departed

Its 3:05 in the morning, I found myself staring at the shell that was once my father. With the smell of death all-around me I pondered what cards are dealt to us in the game of life.
I believe most people never think of their parents growing older and some day passing on. I know, I was that way about my father. We think of our parents as being strong an invencible that nothing will ever happen to them, but all too soon we find out how wrong we were. My father was the smartest, strongest, and bravest person I have ever known. Although he only had a 7th grade education, he could give you the answer to a math problem faster than anyone that I know.
He told me funny stories about when he was in the Navy CB’s during World War II, but later in my life my mother informed me about the terrible things that he had endured. He was a strict father, but he taught me to be thankful for what I had, and how to treat other people with respect. Even though he was strict, he had never spanked me when I did something wrong. I think that stems back to when he was a kid and his father would tie him to a bed post and beat him with a razor strap, that too I found out in later years. I knew when I had pushed him to his limit by his bald head getting beet red, so that was my warning I had better straighten my act up. I treated him with the utmost respect; he was always proud that I never cussed. Little did he know that I did sometimes, but even after I got older I still had the respect not to do it in front of him.
As I was remembering about some of those events, I found myself standing by a bed at a Hospice hospital staring at my father, a man I had so much admiration for. He was on his last journey and I couldn’t accept it I felt so helpless. As I looked on the man that was once superman immortal, but now was very mortal. I thought “why is this happening?” , “he didn’t deserve to go like this.”
I had been by his beside for four days and nights, watching death slowly take over his body and soul. On the last day the nurse got me off to the side and reminded me that the last thing to go on a patient’s body was their hearing. Then she commenced to say, “your father is very strong willed”, something I already knew. She said that his time to end had come but he was fighting it, so I would have to tell him that it was alright to pass on. It was like somebody had hit me in the face with a hammer, how in the world could I do that? But as I sat there that evening, I knew all too good and well, the nurse was right about what I had to do. So taking a deep breath and trying to contain my emotions, I began to tell this dearest man I have ever known, how proud that I had been of him, and that he and my mother, who passed on years before, had done the best job any parent could do at raising a child. Then I told him how lucky I was to have had him as my father, but now his job here on earth was over and it was time to start his new journey. Even though he was unable to communicate, as I finished talking I noticed a tear running so slowly down his cheek. I spent the rest of the evening reading verses out of the Bible to him until I fell asleep.
Around 3:00 in the morning the nurse woke me and said that it was time, he was getting ready to pass on, so as this man that gave me life and was everything in the world to me, took his last breath, I leaned down to his ear and told him how much I loved him, and I thought to myself how lucky we were to have known him and that morning a mortal man again became immortal, in my heart.

Charles L. Fridel born July 1913 passed Oct. 1993
Written by Larry Fridel

Antoine Dagobert

Beautiful story my friend!is exactly what I feel bout’ my father!Thanks for sharing it!Instant fav.!
frogster

Antoine I thank you my friend.
Andy73

Beautiful frogset. I just sat beside my Pa not so long ago, and watched him pass away, and he will always be immortal in my heart. Your words are exactly how I felt. Thank you for sharing this.
Ruben Flanagan...

Thank you frogster for sharing this wonderful heart felt story .
Your words have brought an emotion to my hearts and reminded me that we are all just human and that love and compashion are the most important thing in the end.
God bless
Ruben
Rachael Taylor

Thank you for sharing this very personal story. Must admit I shed a tear! What a wonderful father you had and it made me ring my dad and tell him how much I love and appreciate him.A great piece indeed!
Mel Brackstone

Big hugs, Larry, I went through the same thing in May. I feel your pain, buddy!
frogster

Thank you Andy.
frogster

God bless you also Ruben.
frogster

Im so glad it touched your heart Rachael that you called your father.
frogster

Thank you so much Mel.
Susan Zohn

Your story touched my heart so much Larry. I too have a father much like your father. He is still with us but strong and my superhero. Now in his later years I see me fathering my father. Something I do with much respect and honor but never thought I would be in this position. We do always think out parents will never grow old don’t we? You touched my heart as you shared as your tender moments with your father. What a great legacy he passed on to you and now you can pass on. He is immortal now and smiling at you his wonderful son. You are blessed my friend and thank you for giving me a piece of your heart.
Susan
Susan Zohn

sorry for the typo’s. My fingers go faster than my brain!
frogster

Susan your sweet comment has brought tears to my eyes my only son who is 36 yrs and is the world to me. But he is so busy in his own work and family and seldom has time for me in his life, maybe he will give a call now and then and I’m still at an age (59) that I would love to do things with him, but maybe when I’m gone he might think that he could have spent some time with me.
coleen gudbranson

pass me a tissue please
well written frogster
frogster

Thank you Coleen
ChainmailChick

Beautiful. I’m glad you were able to be there with him.
Laurie Rawdon

Such a touching story Frogster, I also lost my father…my hero 11 years ago. Your Dad sounds like a wonderful man and I’m sure he must have been very proud to have a son like you. Knowing what it’s like to be without my father I surely hope your son realizes what he has long before he has to feel that pain.
mlgkats

beautiful story frosgster your dad would be very proud of you, but he is still watching over you too he is your guardian angel
kitscoot

kitscoot.
my brother matt passed away 11-9-07 he was one of nine, my heart is brocken. i do know how sad you feel. i wrote a poem for him which i will read at the blessing i will be thinking of your dad god bless you
Joyce Dickens,...

Thank you so much for sharing that moving story with the rest of us frogster; it reminded me a lot of my father who passed away in 1980 at the young age of only 59…...your story made the hair on my neck stand up! Absolutely beautifuly written!
frogster

I’ am glad I was there too Chick, thank you
frogster

Thank you Laurie.
frogster

Thank you migkats.
frogster

Thank you kitscoot, sorry to hear about your brother.
frogster

Thank you so much Joyce.
Evangeline Than

Frogster, if I could give you a real hug right now, I would :)
frogster

Thank you Evangeline.
loramae

Oh…bless your heart. I know this had to be so very hard for you to write about…God blessed you with a wonderful Daddy, but you know, God blessed your Daddy with a wonderful son too. Take care and God bless you.
LM
mawaho

Thank you for writing and sharing your story. Fathers are very special!
frogster

Thank you much loramae.
frogster

Thank you mawaho
Wendy Slee

amazing and beautiful tribute…
so very well written, brought tears to my eyes.
frogster

Thank you so much Wendy.
Marion Cullen

Larry, you are so fortunate to have shared such a bond with your dad, not all as so lucky. I bawled reading this, for your deep despair at losing someone so dear, and for my own pain, knowing that I will never experience what you are so fortunate to have.
Wonderful, everlasting memories. So very beautifully written too.
frogster

Thank you so much Lumineux
Heabar

WOW Larry as i type though my tears dear friend i just really admire you for telling us this wonderful journey of your life with your dad & many thanks for sharing it with us __ can we only imagine how God felt when his only son died on the cross for us Amen !!!
frogster

Thank you for your kind words Heabar, my father was a great man, my loss for the time being but heavens great gain.
Irene Burdell

Larry , I have cried buckets reading your story , thank you for sharing these last moments with your beloved father.
frogster replied

Thank you Irene for reading it.
webbie

Larry you was so blessed, He had to fight his past to be the daddy you knew…He was a strog man…In a lot of ways maded me think of my dad…Yes it hurts to turn lose ..but one day in heaven you’ll see the strong healthy dad of your past and your mother…God bless you hun..I know how you fell. Great job of writting with your heart my friend:)
frogster replied

Thank you Thelma, Im so proud that I was allowed to be his son.
webbie

Amen …I so understand…and in Heaven He so proud you are to…hugz hun.
merlin67

That is so touching – it made me cry. You have a wonderful way with words. Thank you for sharing it
frogster replied

Thank you for reading my story Merlin
jenxie

OK, I am crying now and have a lump in my throat….
frogster replied

Aw thank you so much Jenxie
Lynette1

That is such a touching piece of writing. It reminded me of when my father died – and it made me cry – even though it was 14 years ago. You write beautifully Frogster – and thank you for sharing this most private part of your life with us.
frogster replied

Thank you much Lynette
wigs

a beautiful heart felt piece…thank you so much for sharing
frogster replied

Thank you for taking time to read it Wigs.
ienemien

Thanks Larry, I have the same feeling when my dad past away, november 2001. Later my Mom in 2005. Its so True what you write, and also a blessing that you CAN write it down … Bye…ien
frogster replied

Ien thank you so much for reading this, and Im very sorry for the loss of your mom and dad.
Mariska 4 days ago

Deeply touching writing Larry,thank you for sharing with us. Bless you and hugs xox
frogster replied 4 days ago

Thank you Mariska.