Early this year I met a man named Frank in a most unusual way. He had passed away just a day or two before. All day long, and into the evening, wave after wave of family and friends came to his home to express their condolences. They told stories of his kindness, generosity, contentment, and his storytelling - always his storytelling and his laugh.
Frank was my father but I knew him as dad or Don. Upon marrying Luisita 10 years before, he had begun using his first name, Frank. Everyone in his adopted home of Costa Rica knew him as Frank. I learned more about my father that day from total strangers than I could have possibly imagined. For me, sadly, it was a stunning new portrait of my dad. While I had certainly seen these qualities before, I now see them more vividly, more profoundly.
I say, sadly, because while our relationship was cordial and loving in many ways, this new portrait would have been helpful. His illness was very brief and his death quite sudden. I always thought there would be plenty of time to reconcile our differences - either real or imagined.
Why am I sharing this personal story? Maybe your friend or loved one is a Client of The Lighthouse Community. If so, you still have an opportunty to reconcile real or imagined differences. I urge you to do so today. The Lighthouse Community is designed to help you take this step.
Please click on the "Tell a Friend" link below and send this post to everyone you know. We are ready to serve Clients and partner with organizations anywhere in the country but we need your help to spread the news.
Thank you, Dale Reed