A Life Well Lived
Dads’ Survival Guide: Proclaiming — Our Beliefs
My Dad had great hair.
It was one of the first things one noticed about Dick Smith. That thick shock of silver hair. A mane spectacular enough to be featured on those hair-loss commercials. And a point of envy for me and my brother. As our hairlines recede more and more. And the comb-over covers less and less.
We inherited a number of traits from Dad. Creaky hips. Bad hearing. The dreaded Gout. But not that fabulous hair. Or his fantastic voice. Nobody could sing as beautifully as Dad.
Dick Smith passed away on Wed April 13th. At 89, he went comfortably in his sleep. Which was no surprise. As his health had been in sharp decline.
Dad was aware of what was coming. Yet, he was unafraid. Completely at peace. Ready to meet his Maker. The Lord God Almighty.
With my sisters by his side, he was more concerned about the distribution of papers and passwords than his deteriorating condition. Which was Dad in a nutshell. Accommodating and selfless, all the way to the finish.
Fortunately, we all had time for goodbyes. Providing a blessed sense of closure for each of our families. Unlike my Mom’s death in ’99. Which happened suddenly. Before any of us could say farewell.
