Farewell Message...Final Post

classicdude wrote:
I don't what to say. It has taken me a long time to read these replies, since the tears have sooo obscured my vision. I'm overwhelmed by the kindness you all have shown. Sharing this with the camping community was wonderful therapy for me, and for that I thank each and ever one of you.

I spent so much of my life self absorbed, thinking mainly of myself and MY personal wants that I often dropped the ball on the really important things in life...my wife, God, my kids, and to a lesser degree my grand kids (I had evolved pretty well by the time the grand kids came along). Camping changed much of that over the last several years since it's such a family oriented activity.

I am so thankful that I have the chance for a re-do, if only for short time. My main mission now is getting affairs in order so my wife will be able to transition, in the least painful way possible, to life without me. I am trying to find the right words to tell her to move on as soon as she can and hopefully find someone else to grow old with-someone who will cherish her as I do. That's very hard to say, and probably just as difficult to do, but I don't want her to be alone.

I feel I am rapidly making amends for my past failings...oh, and I talk to God daily! It's funny how the reality of our mortality can change our attitudes isn't it? It's not over for me just yet. I had another great day today and can still do anything I want to do only a lot slower, but I am starting feel fear, not overwhelming, but fear nonetheless.

Final thought: Hold those you love closely and tell them, show them, just how much you love them. Take a daily break from the stress of your busy day to look around at the trees, flowers and birds, and take note of all the things that you may have never noticed before. Of course as campers you probably already do this! I better quit before I get pathetic. :)

I know I'm late to this post but it seems that you just summed up probably the best "words of wisdom" that could ever be written,and you show incredible strength and courage in them. In the last 12 months I have lost two of my dearest friends to cancer that came out of nowhere and took their lives at 47 and 53 respectively within 8 months of being diagnosed.I will say a prayer for you and your family and wish them well moving forward. I would say stay strong but obviously you already seem to be one of the strongest people out there. Best of luck.