Not to be critical of your dad in any way, but maybe to give you some hope. My dad was a pretty heavy smoker and drinker too. In his mid 50s he decided to stop drinking. I think some work associates had commented to him that he was drinking a lot more. A couple years later he had a major heart attack. Jokingly blamed it on sobriety but never resumed drinking. He quit smoking then, and to my knowledge never had another cigarette or drink. He made it to 90 even after dealing with prostate cancer in his early 60s. I think his mother died around 50 (alcoholism) and father 75.
That is amazing. Here I was sorta proud of myself for losing weight. Your dad puts me to shame. Good for him.
70/88 My father was a WWII pilot and mechanical engineer who quit smoking in his forties. My mother, on the other hand, smoked well into her 70s and ultimately died of emphysema at 78. I believe many from the Greatest Generation passed before their time due to heavy smoking. Growing up in the '50s and '60s, I can’t recall many places where smoking was prohibited. In addition, the small town I grew up in <6,000 people probably had ten or more drinking establishments, literally a bar on every corner in the downtown area. Alcoholism as well destroyed many lives back during that era.
What a sad story - and there are many thousands like it. Maybe if there is a next time, we'll have learned something.
I have several friends whose parent died in a nursing home and they could not visit and be with them when they passed. Those people who made those decisions should be charged with human rights violations and prosecuted.
Another ill-conceived decision was that my dad was a Korean War vet and The Department Of Veteran's Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration ruled that services at VA cemeteries were suspended indefinitely, even though it's an outdoor venue. When military services were again allowed, they were limited to only 10 attendees wearing masks. I was too heartbroken and couldn't pick and choose only 10 people and I certainly did not want masks for those who were grieving and unable to offer each other sympathy through facial emotion. I had Dad cremated and we waited until restrictions were lifted so everyone who wanted could attend.
And thanks for sharing. I often think when I hear such stories that a book should be written. I don't know if that's true for everyone, but my dad's and your dad's life would likely make a good read.
Children of military servicemen and women get my respect. My father was active combat duty for the WW2 and Korean era. He was a draftee. His mind was in the military for years after he was discharged (discharged in 1953 died in 2010). He never liked the military and never identified as a soldier, though he was one.
