Rest in peace and wonder no more!!

I recently lost my father-in-law who succumbed to cancer which he struggled with for 10 long years losing a kidney to this scourge in 2001, a lung in 2010 and finally his life in November 2011.

This man, my father-in-law, was a stickler for orderliness and timekeeping. His dress sense was impeccable from his dress shoes, his farm shoes - often name brand sneakers - his suits, ties etc. He was after all a retired military man bearing his retired status like a medal on his chest, never tiring of reminding anyone that cared to listen to him that he was Retired Major 'so and so'. 

He was well informed, articulate, charming, hardworking, fair and honest.........a true man of honor. He lived a full life serving his country for 35 years and having the privilege of training in the USA, Pakistan & India as well as doing time in a peace keeping mission in North Africa.

Time to him was very important and he would berate anyone without fear or favor that was tardy and I will eternally be grateful to him for instilling in me an already highly attuned sense of time. His influence on his children, my wife included, also followed him to his grave with all processes as orderly as a military parade from the polished coffin, to the time keeping and lack of politicians whom he could not tolerate. After all if he were to arise from the dead his first words would be to criticize what he saw as shoddy arrangements.

He passed on with his affairs all in order as we came to learn later on with all details of his various properties, the locations of the title deeds and log books, the status of his tenants including those who had paid up and those in arrears, the whereabouts of his will and his various insurance policies. All the properties and bank accounts owned were in the joint names of him and my mother in law.

In his last few months on this earth, he was very cranky and obviously in plenty of pain and had lost several kilos as a result of the cancer and the associated radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments. He walked all hunched and bent over like an old man while he was only 67 years old and supported himself with a cane which he detested greatly. From the fully upright proud man that I had known over the course of 20 odd years to this hunched up figure was a real revelation that cancer can level even the staunchest and strongest of personalities. 

It pains me that though he is now free from pain he will not see the results of the elections in 2012 because though he hated politicians for the lies that they told, he followed politics astutely and would be well prepared for any debate on matters political with insightful wisdom, razor sharp wit and dry humor. He is past wondering now and in a place free from pain and suffering. 

May the good Lord rest his soul in eternal peace!