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My first Christmas in Canada, the roomie's mum and stepdad welcomed me into their home for the holiday.
At one point Dave told me to leave my shoes out for him to polish. He liked doing it, he said.
Immediately, I remembered growing up watching my father spit polishing his Army boots, and teaching my brother and I how to clean our school shoes. It became a Sunday night ritual and Dave reminded me of it so strongly I choked up a little. I explained and he nodded, understanding.
Every time I visited, he'd polish our shoes. That's the sort of person he was.
Dave died this morning after a several-week battle with cancer. In one sense it's a relief - he was in a lot of pain at the end. But on the other hand, the main one, is the sense of loss. We've barely had time to adjust to the idea of him dying. Now he's gone.
Goodbye, Dave. Thank you for making me feel part of your family.
At one point Dave told me to leave my shoes out for him to polish. He liked doing it, he said.
Immediately, I remembered growing up watching my father spit polishing his Army boots, and teaching my brother and I how to clean our school shoes. It became a Sunday night ritual and Dave reminded me of it so strongly I choked up a little. I explained and he nodded, understanding.
Every time I visited, he'd polish our shoes. That's the sort of person he was.
Dave died this morning after a several-week battle with cancer. In one sense it's a relief - he was in a lot of pain at the end. But on the other hand, the main one, is the sense of loss. We've barely had time to adjust to the idea of him dying. Now he's gone.
Goodbye, Dave. Thank you for making me feel part of your family.
