Saying goodbye

In December of 2009, my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. In May of 2010 we were saying goodbye. I have only know my father-in-law, Gene, 11 short years. In that time we have become very close.

I used to tell people that he was like a second father to me but the more I thought of it, he WAS a second father to me. No words can explain the pain I feel right now. There is a void in my life that can not be filled by someone else. He has helped me with problems, either a leak in the sink, a room that needed to be remodeled or a personal problem. He never sugar coated anything, he told it like it was. What he said may not have been what I wanted to hear but I knew it was the truth...and I cherish that.

There were many times I wanted to drink a beer that I knew I shouldn't have but I knew I could count on him to drink one, or many, with me. Many a night we ended with beers and a cigar. Either by the pool in the summer or in the garage freezing our asses off in the middle of the winter.

I lost my father-in-law, a beer and cigar buddy but most of all, I lost a friend. I love you big guy,I will never forget you or the times we had.