Dear Members,
I am simply overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness that you have shown upon learning of Dad’s passing. Dad has somehow managed to find a way into your hearts, using only a computer. It is a complete mystery to us how he achieved this. He had so many friends, and yet he found time to make more.
Dad was laid to rest this morning. So many people attended, many who we did know personally. It simply never occured to me that some of you would want to send flowers. For this, I am truly sorry. We stayed with my grandmother, and I had no access to a computer. Mom’s brother and his family came from British Columbia for the funeral, and we will be going back with them for a while. I think it will help Mom, and me, to be away from the house. Everything in it is a reminder of Dad. My brother will stay behind to attend to the business. Dad’s employees have expressed a desire to buy it. Dad would have liked that. He considered them family.
Dad had a very large insurance policy, and because the death is accidental it will pay more, so there are no money concerns.
I would like to especially thank Shayna, who’s warmth and kindness I can scarcely understand, yet I am so grateful for it. She took on the burden of announcing Dad’s passing, somehow knowing that I dreaded to do it. And she did it with such grace and feeling. Thank you so very much, Shayna.
And thank you, dear members, from the bottom of my heart. Your tributes will become part of Dad’s legacy. I have saved them and when we return I will print them out and have them bound in leather.
I don’t have time to answer any e-mail, because I have to finish packing, but I have read them, and I thank you for your thoughtful words.
Whoever is responsible for the banner, please know that it brought me to tears. But they were tears of joy, not despair. Thank you so very, very much.
OpalCat, I couldn’t book into your message board because I forgot my password. I hope you’re reading this because I want you to know how much I value and treasure your memorial page to Dad. That you took the time to make it is just sweet beyond words. Thank you so very, very much. I’ve saved it and that too will be bound. And please extend to your members my heartfelt thanks for their kind thoughts.
When we’re done packing, we’re going to pick up Grandma. She’s coming with us. Dad always called her the perfect mother-in-law, because she lives out of town. (wry smile). She adored him.
Mom and my brother have never been able to grasp the concept of on-line friendships. Neither did I, although I tried. I even signed up on the board. But I just couldn’t get into it. I should have tried harder.
God bless every one of you. Your kindness will not be forgotten.
Amy –
Keep in touch.
Your Dad brought many of us smiles and, more often than not, belly laughs. He was a good husband, father and (He apparently had Grandma fooled so I’ll include) son-in-law.
Should you need anything, we are merely an “enter key” push away.
Feel free to use it.
I´m so very sorry for you my dear. I am also glad that you are surprised by the attention your father is currently receiving. You better believe he was loved, Amy. He was one of my best online friends.
Take good care of yourself and you family in these hard times, dear. I would like to add that I did not send you a personal e-mail yet because I knew you´d get flooded with them anyway. But rest assured, I´ll be in touch with you in a few weeks time. That is, if you don´t mind.
I hope it was a nice funeral, Amy. Read the boards for a while, and see what people from all walks of life and all sorts of countries in the world are doing in Wally´s honour. Be amazed at how much we loved him, and always will.
You´re dad was a very, very special man. And you are a lot like him, so far. Take good care of yourself, dear. I hope to talk to you in a few weeks.
From the bottom of my heart, “mahalo” for your wonderful words. Your father was such a kind individual, and his energy flows through you.
I am particularly heartened to hear that your dad’s employees want to buy the business. What a great way to honor your father, and become self-empowered at the same time.
Thank you for checking in. You and your family have been in my thoughts all week. Please let any of us know if there is ANYTHING we can do. And yes, I mean that with all my heart. The name Amy means ‘beloved’, and know that you ARE beloved by many of us here. Take care, hon.
Amy, thanks so much for your kindness and consideration in letting us know how you’re doing and for your gracious words of thanks. What a beautiful message.
Your father was dear to everyone here. You, your mom and your brother are in all of our thoughts and prayers.
Amy, thanks for letting us know how everything is going. Hope to see you back here soon to carry on where your Dad left off. I know he’ll be looking down on you, telling you when someone needs a reminder that they’re a putz.
Amy, remember we are always here for you. You are going through a tough time. I hope everything will be alright for you. Your father’s presence meant a lot to all of us.
Thanks so much for checking back in. I can tell you in all honesty that not a single waking hour has passed without my thinking of Wally, and his family. Along with the personal loss and grief was the helplessness of not being able to ease the infinitely greater pain of Wally’s much-loved family. Time is the only thing that brings ease. But you’ll always have the comfort of knowing your family had the unconditional, unqualified love of a wonderful man, and one who made firm, fast friends of people he met only through words.
I’m glad that you and your mom will able to have some respite with family and a change of scene. My heart goes out to brave Steve handling the affairs at home. Wally was such a great, unique, wonderful man I’m sure that there will be plenty of friends who will insist on helping Steve through his sad tasks.
For what it’s worth, a great deal of you and your family “came through” here, even though Wally was discreet and very protective of your privacy. You’re a family of strong, funny, loving individuals. You’ll get through the tragedy and go on, through the strength Wally gave you and you gave him. But rest assured you always have friends here to help you through, for your own sakes as well as his.
My dear, sweet Amy. Precious child, it was my privilege to be able to bear that burden for you. I know how deeply you are hurting and how your life has been eternally altered by this tragedy. My heart not only breaks for my own loss but for yours as well. I loved your father very, very much. But that love couldn’t even touch the love a girl has for her daddy. If there is anything that I can do for you or your family, please, please don’t hesitate to call or to lean on me any time.
I feel I came to know you as you participated in my Smoke-Out thread and through my chats with your father. He loved you so dearly, and even in death I’m sure he still does. I was happy to be able to pass his words along to you so that you would know what pride he had in you and your brother.
Many of us would still like to be able to send cards or tributes, so if there is an address, even a post office box you could set up, please let us know. We feel so lost and helpless being stuck behind these little boxes, not being able to reach out and hug you and let you know how deeply, deeply sorry we are for the loss of your father.
You have my phone number, so when you get settled in at your uncle’s house, please do call me collect. My thoughts and prayers are with you now and always.
Amy, thank you for keeping us updated. I was thinking about your family and praying for you this week. I am glad to know that you will be able to be surrounded by family at a time like this.
Again, you have my deepest sympathy. Please, let us know if there’s anything we can do for you or your family. And please take care of yourselves.
Amy, thank you on behalf of those who haven’t seen this message yet. That you have taken the time out of your alreday busy day to tell us all this shows a great deal of maturity and responsibility that a lot of us would not have had the presence of mind to do.
Words do not do a situation such as this one justice.
—————3124—————
