My Fathers Last Days #1

I know this look. I understand these realities. I am aware of the shared future. I am not comfortable.

Well said Ken.

Hell of an assignment, well done.

OMG, 29 years ago my father died and it still hurts. seeing this makes me want to cry. This is such a strong photo. almost too strong. you did such a great job with it. God bless you and your father

I just went through all your work. you are way over the top with great photos. everyone has it's own story. so impressed with it.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. Making the pics of dad that last year were the most difficult photographs I have ever made. Dad agreed to be photographed I think as a final gift to me. He knew that if I was making pictures it would help me deal with things better. We worked together that last year on this series, he would allow me to make photos and we would talk each day. During that last year I only missed 5 or 6 days, almost everyday we were together. My Father never saw this picture but he was aware and involved as we made it, we spoke, he moved his hand up to his chest on his own (I always thought he had beautiful hands). Up to the last day he talked to mom and was in surprisingly little pain (or so he told us). Dad died at home, mom was his nurse through out that year even thou she was 79 years old at the time. We had some outside help come in but the majority of the work was mom. I think he lived so long with pancreatic cancer (13 months he was 81 when diagnosed) because he had so much love and care from my mother and was able to eat his own food, and live in his own house. Dad was also a very strong man who worked full time until he was almost 80 years old. My father and I shared the same birthday, 32 years apart. The last day he told mom he was going to take a nap a just before he passed. I was with him alone when he died (mom was sleeping in the next room). After he died I got to spend time alone with my father before anyone else in the world knew he was gone. I got to sit with him for 10 minutes to say goodbye one final time. Later on I gave the euglogy at dads funeral, which turned out to be a healing experience. I got to tell a room full of people what a great father my dad was.