MS MuSings
A Monthly Online Magazine
By and for those who live with MS,
Multiple Sclerosis
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MS MuSings A Monthly Online Magazine By and for those who live with MS, Multiple Sclerosis
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Tables of Contents: Other Features:
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By Tripodd (David Butschy) For those that know me very well, you know that I tend to write as my form of therapy. This was written about my Dad's passing on 8-21-02. Most of it was captured in my mind during the string of events, but it just got captured to an electronic form late last night. Twice Blessed My Dad lived a wonderful life. He was a real people person And loved meeting people. He never knew a stranger.
Dad worked in retailing. Probably worked too many years. But mostly he enjoyed it. It kept him near to "his public."
Any new acquaintance Was treated as a long lost friend. He also loved music and Grew to love reading.
He enjoyed traveling and In late September, 2001, He and some friends went to Spain. Yes, that infamous September.
Many people postponed flights and travel. Figured there would be time later. In a safer, saner, calmer time. Some will never take the trips.
One of his friends in travel Came home and got very sick. It would turn out to be his last trip. But memories last forever.
Dad married mom in 1948. They had two kids- My sister and myself. She turned out OK.
Dad was something of a tinkerer. Could make birdhouses and gizmos. I’ve seen him make something out of nothing. I inherited part of that skill.
For Mom’s last years, Dad turned caregiver. Took really good care of her. Liked to have wore him out though. They were really blessed to have found each other.
After December, 2000, Dad was sometimes a little lost. Yes, he worked and traveled. But you could tell something was missing in his life. The sparkle was not always there.
He went out to visit his sister Thelma. In Tucson,Arizona. He had a great time and visited several times. Some of the sparkle was reappearing.
At first, I thought part of it was from visiting Thelma. And part of it was. I also thought he had fallen for the mystique of the desert. And part of it was.
Slowly, it became apparent. He had met Bette And there was a mutual attraction. And the sparkle turned up a few more notches.
Pretty soon it became obvious. They were on a runaway roller coaster. Trying to stay on the tracks, And continuing to pick up speed.
We met Bette and she is charming. We could understand the attraction. A truly classy lady. And Dad’s sparkle was back.
Suddenly, he was getting married and moving to Arizona. And we were very happy for him. Thought he would have many happy years. A new bride and a new location.
His newly discovered mountains and desert. A completely different setting. From anywhere we’d lived before. And he also loved this new landscape.
Who’d have known he would need surgery again. Who’d have known he and Bette Would have such a short time together. They were planning a visit to Austin.
I was going to get to know Bette better. And catch up on Dad’s life some more. Sit around and watch him glow. Take them to our favorite Austin restaurant.
That wasn’t in the cards. The Lord called him home. For reasons we’ll never know. But we’ll be seeing him again.
Most people are lucky to find true love once. Maybe good company the second time. But this was true love again, from both. And Dad and Bette were both twice blessed. David E. Butschy August 22, 2002 Reach Tripodd by email to comment: tripodd@texas.net |
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