I had a couple of really freaky thoughts today... both in relation to my Dad (though why I was thinking about him I'm unsure). Anyway, I'll deal with the two issues in separate posts.
The first one that occurred to me is the fact that I am now older than my father was when he passed away. It's one of those things that really makes you think about your mortality.
My father died on July 18, 1980 at the age of 42 as a result of heart disease.
I guess I can take comfort from the fact that he died 11 years after his first heart attack. I remember a story he told about his stay in hospital when he had it. He was laid in bed bemoaning the fact that he'd had a heart attack at the age of only 31. Complaining that this was something that should only happen to old men. Anyway, he finally decided to break free of his self pity long enough to ask the 'kid' (18 years old) in the bed beside him what he was in hospital for, the reply:..."I had a heart attack". Ouch!!! At that moment Dad decided not to feel sorry for himself (though from the way he acted you wouldn't have known it). Still, it taught him a lesson that heart disease is no respecter of age.
The other thing that I personally believe contributed to his demise was his own personality. You see, he was one of those 'stress heads'. You know the type... they freak out about the tiniest things and every little failing within their family is a deliberate and direct attack on him personally (yes, he was very abusive). I suppose I can be thankful that I am much more laid back than he ever was, something that my children can vouch for :) They kinda view me as a 'cool' mom rather than a parent who is completely out of touch with the issues facing them. It's a good relationship to have with your teens/young adults.
The only thing I have got in common with my father in relation to health is that 12 years ago I was diagnosed as having high cholesterol levels (which is something I'm sure he had also but they didn't really know about high cholesterol and it's link to heart disease at the time that he died). I also tend to have heart palpitations.
But yeah, it was kinda freaky to realise that I am actually older (at 43) than he was when he died. Hopefully I've got plenty more years in me yet!
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