Bill

Today would have been my father-in-law's birthday. For those who do not know...he passed away this past August. He was a very unique person who although seemed hard and rough...was a huge teddy bear inside. He lived and breathed for my son, Austin, who was the only grandson of Bill's. That was his life. We were living in South Carolina at the time and he and my mother-in-law, Martha, come up to bring my son a swingset. Bill had bought it at a yard sale. It was beat up and rusted...but he hand sanded each piece and painted it to give to my son. We put most of it up and then my son and I went to Myrtle Beach with Bill and Martha. My husband, their son, couldn't go because of work. Never thought that would be the last time with him. He got sick on the last night of the trip and all the way home. I thought he had a stomach bug. But it ended up being a intestinal blockage due to his over-sized hernia. He had surgery and thought he would be fine. However after 62 days in ICU and dealing with kidney failure and multiple infections including MRSA...his fight ended. You can read a history of his days in the hospital here...www.arlissagreen.com/blog/.
We are now heading into 8 months without him and the classic saying that time heals all wounds...is just not true. Everyday there is something that reminds you of the sting of reality. His chair in the garage, his metals from service, resemblances in my husbands face, tears from Martha's broken heart, and the sad heart wrenching voice of my 4 year old saying, "I miss my Papaw." I personally can't handle it. I try to not think about it because when I do...I loose it. Death is very hard for me and with what happened with Bill and then my beloved Aunt Penina passing away right before Christmas...it is almost unbearable.
But I know that they are no longer in pain, and those who knew Bill....he suffered a lot in pain. I am blessed that I got to meet Bill and be apart of his family. I will forever be thankful to him for the greatest gift in my life...my husband and his only son, Robby.
Bill I didn't always see eye to eye...I think because we were so much alike. :-) But we loved each other and our last beach trip was wonderful and I would never trade it for the world. Those memories are a treasured part of my heart.

So happy birthday Bill. I love you and miss you terribly. :-(