Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
I'm so sorry, to hear about your buddy Eric.
I know what great mates you were.
My condolences.
My wish is to do with water too.
The last summer before my Dad died I met my parents on holiday down in Dorset. My Dad had his boat down there, and it was perfect weather, mill pond calm, for water-skiing.
He needed me to drive the boat, if he wanted to ski.
I did, a few times. But he would have known by my attitude that it was done under sufferance. It makes me feel so ashamed, when I think of it now.
The following spring, as he lay dying at home, I told him to hang on, and we'd go water-skiing together at Easter, and have a great time together.
I never got that chance, as he died that night, with all of us, his family, surrounding him on the bed.
I'd give anything to go out in the boat with him again, and show him that I was there willingly.
A small thing to do, that would have made a good man very happy.
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A litany of regret is part of what makes us human. Fortunately, it ain't the whole. Rick was cremated ... a private ceremony: Shirley, his mom, and his siblings. Tomorrow, there will be a celebration of his life. I think it might turn out to be a good time. And, I'm going to make a serious bid on his boat.
And after the Easter break, I'm going to make a donation to the Kingston Humane Society in his name. That was one of his requests. The other one, of course, was a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.