I remember that day very well; beginning as I walked out of noon Mass. I was informed by a fellow AMI student that I was wanted in the principal’s office. I immediately thought; “Uh oh, what have I done now?” When I entered the office and saw Kathleen, Tim and I think Margaret, along with Fr. O’Toole, I figured that this visit to the office was not about me. Fr. O’Toole started with words like, “This is the part of a priest’s duties that are unpleasant.” Right away I knew the news was not good. I thought, did something happen to Theresa? Is mother okay? Never in my wildest thoughts did I believe that my strong, capable father had a heart attack. However, those words came out of Fr. O’Toole’s mouth. “You’re father has had a heart attack.” Okay, I thought, so my dad is not as strong as I thought he was, but he could get better. Then I looked at Fr. O’Toole and realized he had not yet delivered the entire message. He was hem-hawing around and it was then that I asked, “how is my dad?’ and it was then that he delivered the rest of the message. “Your father is dead.” We cried. After a while, we made our way over to the rectory. That is where mom and grandpa waited for us. Jack Randal, daddy’s regular Bridge partner went to the high school to pick up Matthew. Leah was in the Navy and came home. Patrick was at Rice. He borrowed a car (I think it was a Gremlin, or some similar model) and sped home to Wichita Falls.
I always think of daddy during the month of April. This year will be 40 years since his death. He still lives in my memory and I take comfort in that. The other day as I was driving to work, after having spent the weekend in Austin, I was thinking about Magda and how much I love being her grandmother. It is such a joyful condition. Then I thought about my dad, and experienced sorrow because he never knew that joy. I know that he would have found a special joy in each and everyone of his grandchildren. He would have loved being a grandfather. More importantly, I believe that his grandchildren would have loved him dearly.
So, what are your memories of that day?
Posted by Rita at April 21, 2005 09:40 PMThough I've never met him, I do think what it would have been like to sit at the piano with him and look into his magnificent fakebook. I've always thought of Leo as my own personal Guardian angel. And after we have a little chat, he whispers in my ear, "Don't tell the other grandchildren, but you're me favorite."
Posted by: Meredith at April 22, 2005 09:02 AMI didn't know Leo had a touch of cockney in him .
Rita, this was a nice entry. Thanks for posting it. I have often wished that I had known my grandpa. And it would be interesting to see my dad with his dad, both as adults!
Posted by: Elizabeth at April 22, 2005 11:47 AMElizabeth, that is a neat thought...seeing Grandpa interact with his kids as adults. And seeing his kids relate to their children as adults. It would have been really great!
As for me, I'm convinced I would be able to play piano now if he were alive.
Posted by: Meredith at April 22, 2005 12:02 PMI'm sad to report I don't remember anything about that day. I was either too young to remember or the event was traumatic and I've blocked it from memory. I've always kind of envied all my older siblings because they were able to establish a memorable relationship with our father.
I am especially thankful for your entry, Rita. I knew he had died in April, but I wasn't sure which day.
I look forward to reading the rest of the comments from our brothers and sisters.
Posted by: Theresa at April 22, 2005 03:22 PM