Ralph

Ever since my mother in law passed away last summer, Ralph, my father in law has been sad...He repeatedly told me he really didn't want to be here without her. He pondered aloud why he was still around. It's been hard to see him decline.
Last week was our turn to check on him each day. On Tuesday when I went to see him, I was told he had a UTI and Thrush. The nurse had been to see him and ordered an antibiotic to treat both illnesses. Ralph didn't look well at all...He wasn't too responsive to me. He knew me but wouldn't say much. The next day I was told he hadn't been eating. We thought it was because his mouth hurt from the thrush, but come to find out it was probably because he had lost the ability to swallow. Wednesday evening we were told by the hospice nurse that he was on his way out of this world. We didn't know how long it would take but his body was for sure shutting down.
We got a text message from Robyn (Dave's sister) at about 2:35 a.m. saying that Ralph had passed away in his sleep. He went down quickly and for that we are grateful. He didn't appear to be suffering and he just slipped away...that's how I would like to go when it's time.
I imagined him being greeted by his mother who passed away when he was a boy and by a myriad of others who went on before, but I got a little smile on my face thinking about him seeing Norma again after a year apart. We joked that we weren't sure if they were having a grand reunion or if Norma was thinking "darn, my fun is over!!" If you knew them both, you know what I'm talking about! So...we have a funeral for him this weekend where we will honor and remember him. And life goes on...