Dad never really grew old.

To be fair though medication has helped many people . Just saying!1

My abiding image of my father is of him sitting, peacefully pulling on his pipe, reading a book or doing the crossword, usually with one of my cats in attendance. Like me, he was always at home with his own company. Sadly, he died suddenly at the age of 75. I still miss him. He would have loved modern technology - was always among the first to go out and acquire the latest innovation. Remember the early Amstrad word processors? Dad insisted on buying one for me. He was that kind of man.

PS It's the aroma of St Bruno tobacco that invariably calls up that image, although you don't smell it so often nowadays.

My dear dad was as fit as a fiddle until he was 95. Cycling, walking, driving, gardening and cross country skiing as well as looking after my disabled mum. We were sure he would get to 100+ and keep going. But when mum died, he just gave up, and in a few months he was gone, aged 96.

granjura

Dad was obviously sad when Mum died but he had myself, his granddaughters and later his great granddaughters.
Strangely I think my wife's death upset him more than my mothers as I think he accepted Mum had a decent length of life.
He certainly did not give up.
It was a shame he was with a lady for a short time but it came out she really wanted his money for her family but dad was alert enough to notice this.
I think a good family bond is very important to get over serious problems.
I am certainly hoping to see my great grandchildren and I don't mind at all if they are all girls again.

Frank

My dad wasn't a reader and technology left him totally befuddled bless him.
He loved his garden and his shed and would potter in either for hours. He hated sitting still and would take himself off for long walks. He was very fit (ex P.T.I.) and enjoyed weight lifting well into his 50's.
Sad to say, he never enjoyed retirement. Even sadder he never knew my children. He passed away 2 years to the day before DD was born. He was only 63

ninathenana

Sorry to hear about your father.
It worries me when I am at CRUK events to see signs giving the details of people who have passed away who are younger than me.
I have not rerated getting retired early although I do spend a lot of my time driving children and older relatives to hospital etc.
We all have our place in life however and I must say I would not do things like go on holiday after holiday and neglect my family but I do go on a reasonable amount of holidays with Andie and the family.

Frank

I have seen my own name on a gravestone. Admittedly it's a fairly common name, but it did give me a turn. I was only in my 30s at the time.

annodomini

I have seen my name as well on a gravestone about 20 years ago I think.
The person was only about 5 years older than me.

Frank

When I first moved to this town I was strolling in the local graveyard and came across the spookiest grave in the place, a sarcophagus looking thing, with fake blood on it, and half shrouded by an overhanging tree.
It had my (rather unusual) name on it.

I had to keep a strict reign on my imagination for a while.

anno if I saw my name on a grave, I certainly would be shocked- as I am absolutely sure I am the only one with my name in the world ...

granjura

I think there is a high chance mine will be on a few graves.
There were a few Franks when I was at school and there were a few Hunters.
I think Frank was a fairly popular name in the 30's and 40's and possibly a bit in the 50's as there were some younger Franks in the school.
One of the teachers name was Frank.

Frank

Well My French name is not that common, and my Brit OH's surname very unusual- the combination of the two ... unique I'm sure