A gentleman says good-bye...

My Pa passed away this morning.

A gentleman in the truest sense of the word.

To tell the story of my Pa, I need to start with my Nan. My Nan is a survivor. Her first husband, my Mum's Dad, beat her from the first night of their marriage until the day she boldly walked away from him taking my Mum with her. My Mum was fourteen. Leaving your husband wasn't the "done thing" back then, but Nan did it anyway. She had to... she's a survivor. Her life and the life she wanted for her children was worth more than what people thought of her.

She was alone, without a companion, for the longest time....then she met Charles.

They were in their late sixties when they found each other. He honestly swept her off her feet! At first she didn't know what to do. Mum became her relationship consultant. It was a funny thing to witness as a teenager. We knew though that this man was special...that he was bringing more than himself as a companion for Nan. He was bringing a Dad for my Mum and a Pa for us. Something that we had been missing without even realising it.

When they married we were all so thrilled. It seemed healing had come to my Nan's battle scarred heart at long last. There was so much joy and so much laughter. He had a cheeky sense of humour and loved a good yarn. He pottered in the garden and took her on adventures. They were a match, a beautiful, beautiful match. They were determined to jam a life's worth of memories into the time they had left.

They made each day count until they couldn't anymore.

They stayed by each other's side right up until this morning...

The Alzheimer's worked really hard to take the gentleman away from us, but our memories haven't faded. I have so much more respect for memories now and the power in sharing them with others. The legacy of this fine gentleman will be passed to my children and they will know that for a brief time and angel touched our family.

I will miss you Pa. I will love you always and I know I will see you again. xo