My Gifted Life

It was a sunny day in August
A call arrived to say my dad didn’t have much time left but not to hurry
I dawdled a little because of this and so when I arrived his breathing had already ended

A sat with him in his quiet room. His for the last six weeks counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the end of his life. We wrote him notes on a whiteboard, hearing no longer an option

Then his heart stopped and the world moved just a little bit. He and my wife and I were moved into a private area. He lay peaceful and no longer breathing on a gurney and we said a prayer with a rabbi over his body to the dayan, the one who judges, and there was peace and no second guessing.

Sad that I would no longer hear his silly jokes and unrealistic dreams, the giant who helped raised me had left the earth behind.

He spent overnight with some who fulfilled the command to watch with the dead and we all met the next day at the chapel. It was a sad affair since his brothers and sister had gone on before him, and few else had the time to spare.

A ride back out to the cemetery, a reciting of the Kaddish and we rained earth clods upon the coffin lid beneath where his wizened face lay unmoving.

Who knows what dreams he may dream now, I hope they’re like his dreams of childhood and Benny’s candy store.