#43

I'm going to be very direct with this post. I've been thinking about how to write what was going on in my head since last Thursday, and then Friday happened.

I lost my Father in Law last Friday night. My Wife and her siblings lost their Father. My Mother in Law lost her Husband. The entire family, immediate, cousins, aunt's, uncle's, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends, all lost someone they loved very much. An amazing Man. A Man I was honored to know.

Max was so many things to so many people. He knew everyone. He could get you the name and number of someone who could get you anything. He was a law enforcement officer, an auto mechanic, a carpenter, a plumber, a general contractor, a professional (yet scary) driver, a protective Father, a loving Husband, a rambunctious Grandfather (who shared his food), a respected Father in Law, and a Man who fought to enjoy life as much as he could in the end.

The two most important men in my life are My Father and My Father in Law. They both provide wisdom & guidance to me as a Father, take on the next level of responsibility in being a Grandfather to my children, and are the cornerstones of my own family which Ann gave me.

Losing Max was unexpected. We knew his health was declining but he wasn't slowing down. We expected to have him for a while longer. Life doesn't work on our schedule. Time is uncontrollable. Things happen and we can only do our best to accept what has happened, but that comes with time. Time to cry and hurt, time to remember and miss, and time to heal and feel better. It will certainly take time to accept Max has moved on because he was such an important Man to everyone. We will remember him forever. The places he has been, the things he has done, the people he has loved.

We love you Dad.