It was like any other Monday evening on September 30, 2013 at about 3:30 pm when I got home from work. I shouted to dad the minute I opened the door and he came, laughing at me because I was all bundled up.  We started our usual chatter and continued upstairs after he reported on his meals intake for the day. We talked and laughed about every thing until my stomach was cramped. I told him to stop giving me jokes and allow me to sleep for 2 hours after which I would fixed him dinner and go to my 7pm appointment at the hospital.  Before I fell asleep Dad came running in and out of my room so I asked what he was doing and he proudly showed me how he exercised indoors on the days when its too cold  for him to take his walks around the block. He was very happy and seem to be laughing non-stop, so I told him he laughed too much. He asked me if I wanted him to cry but before I could answer he pretended to be crying, that made me laughed and I then dozed off. Dad woke me to tell me he wanted his dinner so I hurriedly jumped out of bed and prepared what he asked for. Then I noticed that Dad had requested a lot more than his usual morsel and tea. He ate it all, Hutchy came, and Dad left the table to go and chat with him. I got dressed, tell him how proud I am that he is eating more and putting on weight, gave him last touch at the back of his head and ran though the dooor and asked him to lock it behind me. I left for my appointment.That was it!

Less than 2 hours later he was in the hospital struggling to breathe and fighting to stay alive. Oh God! If only I knew that would be our last conversation, our last play, his last meal, Seriously I have no idea what I would do. 
He was My Dad, Mother, Brother, Best friend, Soul Mate, The one who knows me best and loved me most. He didnt even tell me goodby on October 2, 2013. he just went to sleep. This Void can NEVER be filled. I missed him so much that my heart and stomach hurts constantly. He was a large and integral part of my life. Loving him was easy. Letting go is difficult,  Moving on seemed impossible without God. Thank you Dad for a great life. You are my role model and the epitomy of love, warmth, caring, sharing.  All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it to you.  You will live in my heart forever and I cherish your laughter through my tears. I Love you lots but God Loves you more so rest peacefully until then.     

My Dad was a caring, giving, friendly,loving,jovial, kind man. My earliest memories of his kind, caring ways goes back to the days when I would eagerly listen for the sound of his truck horn.(Maybe as a child, I had super hearing or his truck had a distinct horn, but I could hear him when he was far away as Allsides.)That was my sign from him to run up the steps and wait for him to stop with my eagerly awaited 'treat' - my "chu-chument" aka Nutrament. I was a picky eater, so my dad always bring home my favourite drink when he went to Christiana. He would stop,give me the bag of 'goodies' and say, "Tell Vassie mi jus a guh drop off de load". We would eagerly wait for him to come home and have his dinner because we knew he would always leave something on his plate for us kids. As kids, we would sometimes be hard to control, fighting with each other and not listening to Mom (Aunt Vass), all she had to say was, "jus wait till Venty come home" because all it took was one look from him, and we knew what that meant. Dad, you are gone from our midst but you will never ever be forgotten. I will love you Always and Forever!!! xxx Gem xxx