Goodbyes, nasty discoverys and fond farewells.
My first one was my old Nan, an unpleasant woman with a deep-rooted spiteful streak running as deep as the nicotine stain on her lungs. She managed to make the life of a young me really quite unpleasant for many years as she had been brought to live with us when she was taken ill during the end of my single-digit ages and lasted until I was 12. At least she managed to die during the night, without making a big fuss.

The next one was a colleague, I was walking into work at a Surrey golf club when I chanced upon the wreckage of a car, VERY freshly crashed, one wheel still spinning etc… and the (now very deceased) driver literally in pieces on the road. Phoned plod, waited by the wreck and so on, answered their questions and managed to identify the body for them. Then walked into work late and told them “[name] won’t be coming in today….sorry”. I had no way of knowing his girlfriend was standing just out of sight, and I was quite surprised to hear someone run off screaming with grief as I made the announcement. Sorry Cheryl, never meant you to find out like that.

One ex-colleague was found floating in the Thames one day, and had my business card in his wallet and I was asked by police to do the formal identification, and they forgot to mention what a drowned body smells like in the high summer. Remember, depression is fun, kids.

Most recent was my Dad, (d.1999). In a side room, in a Wiltshire hospital, they had him on monitors and a morphine driver as pancreatic cancer and a MASSIVE stroke took their toll on him. On his last night, I sat up with him for 18 hours straight, never leaving his side, while further mini-strokes hit him and the pain flickered brief recognition on his eyelids and on the monitors by his side.
Finally in the wee hours of a Tuesday morning, around 4am, for the first time in 3 weeks, he opened his eyes. His expression was unfocussed, vacant and very resigned to his inevitable fate, but after a few moments, he managed to focus and seemed to recognise me for just long enough to croak the faint word “bye” before closing them again as they clouded over, for the last time. (The memory of that last look from him will always be with me, it was like looking directly into his soul as it took flight) The monitor by his bedside registered his passing with a single, mournful tone and a solid, unwavering flatline. Yes, I cried like a baby, and still get a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat when I remember it. Goodbye Dad. I still love and miss you greatly.
( Dangermouse., Thu 28 Feb 2008, 14:38, 10 replies)

* HUG *

( Damion International - now taking orders., Thu 28 Feb 2008, 15:01, closed)

sorry mate.
*hugs with force*
( spangolin - the odds are good but the goods are odd, Thu 28 Feb 2008, 15:07, closed)

*big hug*
I can only imagine how hard that's got to be.
( Psycho Eyes, Thu 28 Feb 2008, 15:07, closed)

Another hug
*bear style*

Crumbs, that brought a lump in the throat and no mistake...
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Thu 28 Feb 2008, 15:38, closed)

How in Gods name...
Are we supposed to click "I like this" on such a heart wrenching story as this, and all the others besides? Can it not be a "Hugs, and I feel your pain, brother/sister" click for this week only?
( Duke Of Belmsford has got 99 records, but Jay-Z ain't one, Fri 29 Feb 2008, 0:48, closed)

Big Hug
I can only catch a glimpse of your grief having lost my Sister. I've lost others in my life, but there is nothing like close family. BUt your Dad knew you were there for him in his last moments.

It never gets easier, does it?
( Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Fri 29 Feb 2008, 4:44, closed)

*click*
I don't like this. However, I click as it is one of the better ones this week.
(Grey_Ghost has yet to decide on a sig on, Fri 29 Feb 2008, 6:59, closed)

*hugs*
nothing to add to the above replies.
( DeSpong currently knitting your suggestions - see profile, Fri 29 Feb 2008, 8:31, closed)

Damn you...
...damn you for making me cry like that. Damn you...damn you, damn you.

*wipes at tears and clicks*
(Musuko, Fri 29 Feb 2008, 13:11, closed)

To the new bean countin' man
*hugs and more hugs*
( hexachordal la la la la la, Sat 1 Mar 2008, 11:47, closed)