Saying Goodbye

Well, I am sitting here just minutes away from leaving for Iowa. We are heading to Des Moines today to see Uncle Bill and say farewell. He is suffering from COPD, and they say he will only get worse and most likely won't make it past Easter. It is odd saying goodbye, cause I feel I have just gotten to know him a bit. I mean, him and my dad were estranged for most of my life and only recently (last few years) been on good terms. I have been able to golf with them a couple of times the past few years and been over to his house once I think.

Though I have not seen or even gotten to know Uncle Bill all that much, it is odd having an uncle that is about to die. Even if he is 15 years older, he is my dad's brother. It makes me think of some day loosing my parents and that day is much sooner than I want to realize. We just need to make the most of the time we have with our parents cause some day they won't be there.

I haven't had that much time to think about all of this, and I know it will be weird being there this weekend, but we are mostly going for my dad. It will be hard for him and has been. I have heard my dad cry a few times on the phone and that is very odd for him. He hardly shows emotion like that. It will be a sobering weekend and a fast turn around for us as I have to be back for work on Sunday.