One year ago Facebook told me my Dad died
On July 4 last year, my Dad died. At the time I was in Spain, on the final day of walking 1000k on Camino de Santiago. Dad was in hospital, and I knew he was struggling, but he was my father, and looking back I thought he was invincible and would still be here when I arrived home.
This week, I’ve been thinking back to that day. I remember it well. I had walked 40k, a bit further than usual, but I was anxious to get to Finisterre, or Land’s End as it’s known. I had got into the habit of checking my emails wherever a bar appeared with WiFi, but that day walking was very remote, with no opportunities for internet connection.
On arriving at Finisterre, I stopped for a much needed coffee and of course checked my phone. Facebook opened up immediately and there on my news feed was a post announcing that my Dad had died. It was such a shock to get that news on Facebook. Of course on checking emails and calls, I found many missed calls and emails asking me to pkease contact the family.
I will never, ever forget the shock of getting that news on Facebook.
I posted recently about my Dad here
Below are some of my favourite photos of him.
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I am a Facebook fan and have learned to navigate around the boring posts that aren’t funny, or cute. Occasionally, I get ticked with a political post that makes me feel complicit if I ignore something I disagree with in spades. With a few exceptions like this, I enjoy my personal page, and my authors page. Not once, have I ever thought about finding out a piece of information or news like your discovery about loosing your dad. These wonderful photos of him are a treasure, your adventure, something you will always remember, and the day you read on Facebook that your Dad had slipped away, something his generation could never have fathomed. Write on, honoring him on this fine blog.
Lovely thoughts Stepheny. Thanks