Dad

*hugses* I know how you feel love, and yes, 60 is way too young.

i know what you mean. 60 is too young. and yet...

my dad's parents are still around. 90 and 87 respectively. that's too damn old. perhaps it's obvious that i never see them and don't have that appropriate emotional bond or whatever. but when you get to the point where you can't travel, all your friends are dead, your family pretty much avoids you... i dunno, i know how i'd feel (granted i'm medicated and in counselling for suicidal ideation)

on the other side of the family it's pretty similar. the great-grandparents in their case (one side of the family is old, i.e. had kids at 40 while the other side had kids younger)... my great-grandpa found signs of blood in his stool and quit eating until he died. my grandpa knew all about it too, kept everyone else from knowing so no one (else) would have the guilt burden.

and then it comes full circle. my grandma's dad had seven forms of cancer over a 25 year period. lived a happy life with his loved ones all around him. you can't ask for much more than that.

my dad died at 50, would have been 54 this year. i know what you're saying. but on some level you have to be careful what you wish for. i was spared having to watch my old man become senile and weak, tired and aged. then again, i was spared watching him meet his granddaughter for the first time as well.

anyways, i wanted to say more than the obligatory *hugs* but those are implied as well.

on a parting note, i always find it soothing to do the burn a candle thing

Yeah there's definitely a "too old" too. I agree. I just wish he'd had a chance to retire and relax. Even for a while. And I still sorta had to see him weak and tired and aged because those last months...it was a man I didn't know. A helpless man, sick, scared. *shudder* I hate remembering him like that.

Thank you *hugs*