Thinking and praying for you @StaceyO. Peace and comfort to you and your family. I just found out an hour ago a friend of mine passed a little while ago. Gary was a great guy, I'll ask him to help welcome Curtis in.
@StaceyO Please accept my condolences and extend them to your family as well. Rest easy knowing your Dad is in a better place.
I lost my father about 3 weeks ago. It is tough, but hang it there. It gets better. Then worse. Then better. @StaceyO
Thank you so much for the well wishes. My mom and I are at peace. My dad was a tough, old school football coach, a cross between Bear Bryant and John Wayne. He was my rock and my mentor. We had good times and bad, and while I am happy he will feel no more pain, witness no more deterioration of his once strong body, my heart aches with the loss of my advisor and confidant.
I lost mine 20 years ago and even though it was a relief in that he needed to go because dementia had actually taken him years before, it hurt. For me I think the reason the hurt got better was not because I got used to him being gone. It was because I realized after he was gone I was still finding things about myself he had given me to help make me a better person. Especially how to be a better father. I appreciate and cherish those 'gifts'. And I believe I'll still be finding those 'gifts' if I live to be 100. And the same is true about my mother, who passed a decade ago. But you're right there are good days and bad days. On the bad days I like to focus on the early childhood memories which are mainly about family fun times with them and my brother. Who is also gone. Maybe the same will work for you.