The last promise

When my father was diagnosed with lung cancer the doctors told him that he had six months to live and that they could not do anything for him.  After his diagnosis almost a year and a half later my mother was the one to unexpectedly pass.  We thought for certain that dad would be the first one to go but as things would have it he managed to surprise all of us.   I being the one who lived the closest and the oldest became his primary caregiver.   I would bring him to his appointments.  Also I would take him shopping and he always had me hold his wallet since he sometimes left it in the shopping carts.  I would clean his apartment (he wanted to keep his independence as long as he could), go and shovel the snow off of his car when it snowed.   He insisted on driving even if he knew that he should not.  Thank the lord he never went far.   My siblings living at least an hour away did what they could for him.

 In November of 2008, something told me to go over and bring him some ham that I had prepared the night before for his lunch.   I found him sitting in his favorite chair in just his underwear and I knew his time was coming and that it wouldn't be long now till he would be with mom again.  I can still picture him sitting on the side of his hospital bed after he had been admitted to the hospital, and the doctor had told him that he was in respiratory cardiac failure.    We were talking about nothing in particular when he turned to me and said:  "You know Nick we've been on a long journey you and me."  You see my dad had his own unique way to say goodbye to each and every one that he loved and this to me was his way of saying goodbye to me.   Many, many times he would tell us that he loved us.   I simply looked at him and replied that we still had a little way to go.   That last two weeks that I spent with him in the hospital is a gift.  Not only I will I always cherish every second of it but I will always remember the good moments.   I could not for the life of me leave him alone and I stayed with him day and night.  I truly believe even to this day that my mom whispered in my ear for me to stay...

 His great-granddaughter was to do her first communion that spring.   The whole year before, dad kept telling me that his gift to her was that he would purchase everything that she would need for that day.  You see dad was very religious and attended church every Sunday.   He loved her very much and he always made certain that he had ice cream in his freezer for just in case she came for a visit.   On the same day that we talked about our being on a long journey, he made me promise that I would do this thing for him.  He had also made a friend during the previous year which he had met in church and he wanted to make sure that she would get a new outdoor swing for Christmas.  Without hesitating I made him that promise knowing full well that it would be an honor and my most humble pleasure to fulfill his whishes.    

If I had one wish today it would be that he would have lived long enough to see that a great website and an on line business featuring handbags and fashion jewelry was created.    Mom and dad both would have liked the idea of one of their children having created something that would be forever out there in cyber space.  Don't forget that for people of their generation this is an amazing undertaking.  Ok! For me too! 

In all that I will ever accomplish nothing will ever measure up to the last promise that I made to my dad.  It was my honor and privilege to call myself his daughter.  Dad I love you and I know that you are with a very wonderful angel your wife, and our mom.  On my parents behalf I invite you to visit us at:  Otraditionhandbag.com

Written by: Nicole Cousineau