I call my dad everyday now, ever since I got the news that basically changed everything earlier this month. Life is much, much too short and I don’t want to have that guilt of knowing that I didn’t call my dad that one last time.
Today was no different, I got up early and called my dad. He has lots of company these days and he tires easily so I try to get to him before everyone else does. So I was shocked when my phone started ringing at 10 am and it was my mom saying the words that no one ever wants to hear:
“The Doctor was here to see your dad today, they’re not expecting him to make it through the weekend. How fast can you get on a plane and get here.”
Not a bus or a train. A plane, because the flight it short, I would get home much faster. At that moment, it felt like my mom reached through the phone and sucker punched me.
You see, I’ve been pretty far removed from the whole situation with my dad. I basked in the blissfulness that was my ignorance. I knew what was coming, I’ve known it since June when the diagnosis first came to light. Yet I was able to pretend that it wasn’t happening because I didn’t physically see it. So my first instinct was to say no, if I didn’t go home then this wouldn’t happen. The last time I fell apart this hard was when I got the news that Jason had passed away. Yet this just seemed to be somewhat more insulting because it’s my dad.
Had Nick not been there to hold me up, I would have fallen to the floor. Bawling. I would have won an Oscar for my epic ugly cry. Except it wasn’t a performance, this is my life.
I’ve never flown anywhere before. I’ve never had the luxury of going anywhere special, being a Chef doesn’t really give you the time or the affordability to take any significant time off. So clearly I have never stepped foot into Montreal’s airport, which is pretty daunting under normal circumstances, even more so when you’re crying so hard that you can’t breathe, let alone think and try to plan an emergency trip home to see your dad to say good-bye.
Also, I am afraid of heights. So going on a plane alone? Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
Thankfully my other half is much more well traveled than I am and will be able to accompany me to Ontario. Today has been tough so i’m just trying to keep it together for my family and do what I can from here until I get there. So I’m OK right now, but that doesn’t last that long. It comes and goes. I will forever be astounded at just how hard and fast those feels can hit you.
So if you ask me if i’m OK and I say yes I might be lying.
I’m sorry.