i haven't blogged since my dad's accident. i just wasn't in the mood. i'm trying to get things back to normal again. so, let's get this blog going again!!!! i'd like to share my dad's story with you.
my daddy
my dad was riding his motorcycle on friday, november 6th when a woman who had been drinking pulled out in front of him. dad tried to stop and swerve to miss her.....unfortunately, he lost control of his harley and hit the pavement. he was not wearing a helmet. he tried to get up after the accident, but the paramedics sedated him. my mom arrived at the accident while they were preparing him to be bay flighted to bay front trauma center in st. pete. she was not allowed to see him or go near him. i arrived at the scene of the accident just in time to watch the helicopter take off from us-41 with my dad in it. we all rushed to st. pete just to sit and wait all night. the news we got from the nurses and doctors didn't sound good but we had hope.
we spent the next 13 days driving back and forth from venice to st. pete to sit with dad who was in a coma. he underwent numerous surgeries on his brain and his body. i really wanted him to wake up and be himself again. i brought "twas the night before christmas," and read it to him everyday. he read me that book every christmas eve as far back as i can remember. i also brought my i-pod and played "wonderful tonight," and sang it to him everyday because it was his and my mom's song! i talked to him like i've never talked to him before. i wanted him to hear me. i wanted to look at me. his eyes opened up many times for me, but he wasn't in there anymore.....they were empty.
my dad didn't wake up. on thursday, november 19th, my daddy was gone. honestly, i firmly believe that he was already with God before that day. in fact, i know he was. i know this because i was given a sign from him the day after his accident after his brain surgery. i was driving home and in the sky above his house in venice, i saw the most amazing sight. i saw his motorcycle tire tracks in the sky driving off to heaven. i know, it sounds crazy.....i'll be the first to admit it, but they were there and i have pictures to prove it!!!!
in the days that followed his death, we did all sorts of new and strange things. we went through all the old pictures to make a slide show that celebrated his life, we picked out flowers to put on the casket. heck, we picked out a casket........all wood because that is what he would like! good lord, i don't think he would have cared what we picked out, but we took the time to find the perfect one! mom chose the clothes he would wear for eternity, a brown polo, a brand new pair of blue jeans and his Reebok tennis shoes! i wrote down some thoughts that i wanted to share with his friends and family at the funeral.
i laughed.
i cried.
i hugged my children. i was happy that dad was with god. i was sad that i would never hear his voice again. i was mad at him for not wearing his helmet. i was mad at the woman who caused the accident. i was sad for r.t., my dad's best friend who was with him that night. i went shopping for new clothes to wear to the funeral. it was crazy for a few days. then on sunday, we celebrated his life with all of dad's loved ones and on monday, we buried him.
since that monday, life has gone on. life doesn't stop because i'm missing my daddy. i'm moving on....i have to. i have to keep going to make him proud. the last conversation i had with my dad was on halloween night. we were standing behind my truck and he told me how proud he was of me and my photography business. he wanted to see me go far with my business.............
.................that's just what i'm gonna do. i'm going to be revamping things, reorganizing, and getting things back on track!!!!! it's taken me quite some time, but i'm ready to make things happen!!!! for me and my dad!!!! so, to all of my clients who have stuck with me through this, thank you!!!!! thank you!!!!! thank you!!!!!!!!!
now, i'm going to share some pictures of my daddy with you!
these are some pictures of my dad:
dad with maggie
dad with steven
dad with jordan
dad with me, jeannie and kenny, i think i was snoopy!
my wedding day
me and dad
this is what happens to your hair when you ride without a helmet! he was so silly!
'twas the night before christmas 1993
i was going to post some pictures of my dad's hand in my hand after the accident, but i just can't bring myself to put it out here. so here is me visiting with him..... we had to completely gown up for each visit.
thank you for letting me share my story with you.........now, off to work to make him proud!