Life Repeated

This past weekend, my father-in-law passed away from cancer after having been diagnosed just 2-3 months earlier.  He had always been a healthy man who took good care of his body, yet for some unknown reason, cancer took his life.  His loss will be felt for years to come.

But this is not the first time that cancer has taken a healthy member from our family.  In 2005, my father died of cancer, and the doctors had no explanation as to why he contracted the type of cancer that eventually took his life.  I still feel the loss of his presence after so many years.

Losing a loved one is always difficult, and it raises a multitude of questions.  One question that plagues my thoughts is:  Will life repeat its pattern with me?  Will cancer somehow strike me unexpectedly, and will my sons write of their loss as I do now?  While I may not be able to answer this question, the thought of such an event breaks my heart.

Another aspect of such losses is that my sons are now grandfather-less.  As much as I can ingrain in them what is right and wrong, how best to live life and to dream big, there is something special about the relationship between a grandfather and a grandson.  I recall how my grandfathers used to tell me of the "old times", of the stories of war, and of their wisdom from many years of life.  Now, my sons will miss out on this special aspect of life.

Fortunately, my father-in-law and my father had memories with my two sons, and for the most-part, my sons have memories with their grandfathers.  In knowing that, I take peace that my son's lives were impacted by knowing their grandfathers.

Ron, you will be missed.  Dad, you are missed every day.  And boys, I love you more than words could ever express.

Michael