This blog is for my photography business; a place for me to show my portfolio, share recent images and stories from sessions, and to let my current and future clients get to know me. The passing of my Dad has been life changing, I still can't fully comprehend that he is gone.... I'm compelled to share with you my personal images and story. This is about how our family coped with the shock and sadness of the passing of my Dad....
My Dad was raised in Buffalo, NY, he enlisted in the Army at a very young age, was stationed in Germany and that is where he met my Mom. Growing up in the military you really only have each other, we were constantly moving and our family was always far away. So we never really had to deal with death firsthand, my Dad's passing is our first experience. My Dad retired from the military at the age of 38 and my youngest sister was just a baby. My Dad then started a business as a cabinet maker, remodeling kitchens and baths, he worked side by side with Mom for 22 years. He was a master craftsman, making anything and everything out of wood. My sister Betty and I had babies three months apart and my Dad made us the most beautiful cradles for Christmas. The next Christmas my Dad made my son a train set and Zoe my niece received a doll house. He wanted to start a tradition of working on these two gifts each year and adding to them so that by the time the kids were old enough to play with them, they would be complete. He loved a reason to celebrate and Christmas was his favorite time of year. My Dad had a difficult childhood and wanted to create for us what he never had. My Dad would spend weeks putting up Christmas lights and setting up two different train sets for the kids. He also owned several vintage cars and enjoyed restoring them to perfection. Last year we planned an Oktober Fest for my husbands 40th birthday. My Dad really enjoyed planning the party, he loved to do everything to perfection. He always said... "if you're going to do something, do it right." The whole family had such a fun time working on the party together; Ed's brother Ken brewed the perfect beer, (he started a year in advance!), my sisters showed up dressed like German beer maids, and my Mom and Dad were in charge of all the food.
My Dad suffered a massive stroke in his brain stem, when we went to the hospital to see him the doctors told us that he would not recover. When we went to see him in his room he looked so peaceful and just sleeping, we were in such shock and did not want to let him go. The nurses were incredible... I will NEVER forget them. They listened to us, cried with us and took such great respect and care for my Dad. One nurse in particular told of stories in her 28 years experience in critical care. She told us that my Dad was at peace and waiting for us to let him go, her stories gave me such comfort. I am so grateful for the time we had with him and the patience and time the nurses gave us. We had our past with him and a future without him so it was so hard to let him go. When we he passed away we were all in the room with him.
When I went home the first thing I did was to go through all my pictures, month by month, year by year, and every time I found one I sobbed with happiness that I found another one and was so sad because I would never see him again. Any image of him that was not digital I took to Kits camera and had them scanned. We have so many wonderful pictures showing his true spirit and who he was... I am so grateful!!!!!!
The first image is of me with my sibling....