Loved and Remembered thread

[NavyDiver]

Hope we all get recalled when we leave the forum or more. Today is my Dads birthday. Diving despite not being able to swim, fixing anything from trucks to soft drink bottling machines. Introduced to an ale by my uncle who departed this morning.

195081

Never miss a party, a bear hug cuddle or a joke was a rule of his I like to emulate. His habit of Sinking boats or knowing the fuel level before heading off shore is not[bigrolf]

TD died today. He made me run from the gate to the house a few km away and coached my running style from his farm ute beside me. Best parties and tales. He introduced my dad to an Ale

195082

If there is a heaven - TD and Ernie will be enjoying a beer right now.

195083 Cheers you two

So many happy memories from wonderful people warranted a new thread.

[V8Ian]

My condolences James, treasure the memories.

[BradC]

Memories are all we have left.

195084

I hope they're either fishing together.
195085
Or out on the boat.
195086

[BradC]

If there is a heaven - TD and Ernie will be enjoying a beer right now.

195083

I dunno how you put that together, but it's a cracker.

[NavyDiver]

Memories are all we have left.

195084

I hope they're either fishing together.
195085
Or out on the boat.
195086

I had a few tears and a huge Smile looking at the love and joy on your photo Brad.

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Forgive me but I had a crack


195095

Gemini - direct access to Google AI (https://gemini.google.com/share/dbb76072680a)

Memories can be both painful and a loving memory mate.

[BradC]

Very clever. My wife wasn't overly impressed. She reckons it looked "weird". On the other hand, when I showed her the one with your dad and uncle she was "a bit moved".
I might see if I can dig out a photo of my grandfather and try one with him and dad. Grandpa died about the same age as dad.

He went to the docs for a checkup and the doc said "Your blood pressure is looking good Jack". So grandpa took that to mean he could stop taking his blood pressure meds. Cold turkey.
He was back at the docs twice in the next 2 weeks for "cracking headaches" and the doc never thought to either ask him if he was still taking the pills, or check his blood pressure.
He stroked out at the kitchen table after breakfast.

It's not infrequently I repeat this story because I feel it's an important "learning moment" and I'd hate to think someone else made the same mistake when it could have been avoided so easily.

We've lost at least one of every generation of our family prematurely. My grandfather to blood pressure meds (in his 70's), his brother to an improperly installed hot water heater (CO poisoning in his 40's). Dad to Cancer. My cousin (she was 4 years older than me at 46) to a rare (12 cases in the world) disease and my son to Cancer. Yet my grandfather (at 104) keeps going even though he has bugger all memory and has no idea who I am, let alone his kids. He keeps saying "I don't want to be here, just knock me on the head", but the law prevents us.

If nothing else it's a solemn reminder that "nobody gets out alive". I went to a networking dinner last night where several of the attendees were about my age with kids about my kids age and the question came up "How many kids do you have?". I feel the need to answer honestly, then brush it quickly under the carpet with a shrug and a "yeah but" before it stops the conversation dead. Makes me feel a bit cold and callous, but it's either pretend it didn't happen "Oh, I have an 11 year old", or gloss over it so other people don't feel uncomfortable.

If you visit a country town cemetery, a fair majority of the headstones prior to about 1920 are kids. We've made massive progress in health outcomes since then, but not everyone wins.

Anyway, I apologise that got morbid fast. If you are prescribed meds, take them!

[BradC]

We (all of us) are having a **** day today triggered by the 11 year old not being alright this morning. Christmas, his brothers bauble broke setting the tree up, the ****ing christmas elves (that I hate) turning up and all the stuff associated with the whole **** show.

I wanted to post this just to say it's alright not to be alright. I have a teleconference in a couple of minutes and I'll put on my game face, but then I'll go an jump in the altogether too cold pool with Jackson and we'll spend the rest of the day just doing stuff because he's not alright.

Some days you need to say "I'm not ok" and that's ok too. Even for a 51 year old male.

Thanks for starting the thread James. Sorry for hijacking it.