I added this goal last summer after a beach trip with my family. One of the people on the trip was my dad. He wasn’t at peace that trip – things hurt – and he was wheelchair bound. But we still took him out to the end of the boardwalk every day to watch the ocean. I didn’t know if he understood where he was some days – but I think he did. There was something powerful going on out there that drew his eyes to watch.

One day we labored and got him out to the end of the handicapped access. It took three of us. We just got him to the edge of the ocean when storm clouds rolled in and we had to drag carry and hoist him and his wheelchair back to the house.

He passed away one week ago tonight. I could write a lot of things about his last days. But not yet. Today I just need to say, he got every bit of goodie out of life—even his last three weeks. He’d had 3 strokes and couldn’t lift his head, yet he still made us feel loved, told us how much he thought of us, thanked us so much for caring for him, and made us laugh.

My nephew said mid-week, “Remember last summer when we drug him out to the beach? Aren’t you glad we did that?” Yep. I sure am.

Every bit of goodie. Thanks Dad. b.