My last post was on Aunt Mare's 95th birthday, which was September 1st. Just 13 days later our world changed. My Dad drove his car to a park 'n ride lot to take a bus to a Casino near San Diego, something I'd never understand, but something he loved doing. He never made it there, and he never came home, and it wasn't until Sept 29th that his car was found at the bottom of a ravine about 50 miles north of where he lived. The only way he was found was because another car went down the same ravine about a week later, and after 6 days, that wonderful, persistent family found him. He was alive, although injured, but my Dad didn't survive. The crashes were unrelated, but the cars ended up inches apart.
We'll never know what happened, and I'm not sure why people still speculate. He may have gotten lost and/or confused. It doesn't matter. The most kind, sweet, quiet, gentle man (and I'm not just saying that because he was my father), left us as one of the top internet stories online and on the TV news. Even Brian Williams mentioned the story on MSNBC Nightly News, although the real story was the survivor, David LaVau. Just ask Jay Leno of The Tonight Show, who had a follow up story late in November where he interviewed Dave and his son, Shawn, but never mentioned my Dad. He mentioned that there was another car and the guy was dead, but that's it. It would have been respectful had he mentioned my Dad by name, but whatever. The LaVaus mentioned how their heart went out to the family of the other guy when they were first interviewed by the news, and that was clearly from their hearts. Thanks, Jay, and thanks Tonight Show. Clearly you coached the LaVaus on what to say this time. You ought to stick to entertainment and not try to do news, and I'll stick to The Late Late Show and not The Tonight Show.
We met the LaVau family and were grateful to be able to thank them in person. Had they not persisted in finding their father, both families may still be wondering where their respective fathers were. We met David LaVau when we stopped by the hospital on our drive back home. We had a sad ending, but the two weeks before when we had no idea wher my Dad was, what happened, or what we should do, were worse.
That's my Dad in his Navy uniform MANY years ago. (top left, grandpa, Aunt Mare, her husband Uncle Sol, and next to my Dad is Uncle Eddie). Aunt Mary, the oldest sister, is the only one remaining.
This picture wasn't all that recent, but it's a nice picture of my parents
What I learned from this was that most people are kind, and help others when needed. Some of things people offered and did were amazingly generous. One person I know from business offered to take a vacation day from her job and go to my clients, if I needed that. I also learned that some people are mean and opinionated and should keep their opinions to themselves. I'm glad my Dad didn't see the "Jerry Springer" episode when my aunt decided to scream at me for being a bad daughter. She did this in front of my mother, who was beside herself trying to figure out where to look for my Dad. My Dad may have been the only one who would have stood up to her (besides me), although I didn't need any help. I don't usually brag, but I was awesome. I never said anything I'd regret, and I'm proud of that. She did, but I doubt she'll think so.
RIP, Dad. You were loved by many.
