When I was 26, my sweet Daddy was hospitalized with terminal pancreatic cancer. By the time he was diagnosed, he was already in full renal failure, and he was given less than a month to live. Mama and I basically moved into the hospital, and took turns spending the night with him, and waiting for him to die.
At the time, I was a struggling actress with minimal success. While I had been to LA, tested for a few pilots and done a guest spot on a sitcom, I was still stuck in Dallas, not wanting to leave my boyfriend, or move too far away from Mama and Daddy. So I was working as a nanny, and picking up the occasional local commercial or modeling gig.
The weeks spent in Daddy's hospital room were long and painful. While many friends and relatives came by to say goodbye, it was usually just the three of us, our little family. We all knew he would be dying very soon, and didn't want to miss a minute of the time he had left.
We talked quite a bit, and I tried to remember everything he said to me. But as time went on, his situation deteriorated, and he was in and out of consciousness and lucidity. They put him on morphine, which made him a little nutty. At one point my ever-the-gentleman Daddy, who I always describe as being Atticus Finch, made a seriously dirty joke regarding one of the nurses. But we giggled and forgave him.
One day, Mama had gone home to feed the dog, and I was alone in the hospital with Da. He was dozing and I was reading. Suddenly, he woke up, and called me to his side.
"Baby, I want to talk to you about...this acting thing." he said.
Oh no. I felt as though I'd been stabbed in the heart. Daddy had always been so supportive and patient with me and my chosen profession. But I knew he must have been terribly disappointed that I wasn't progressing any faster. I had promised him long before that I'd some day go back to school and finish my degree. I knew this was something that meant a tremendous amount to him, and disappointing him was a terrible feeling.
"I've been thinking..." he continued.
Oh dear God no. Don't have him tell me on his DEATH BED that it's time for me to give up my dream of an acting career and go back to school and get a law degree. Because Daddy is the smartest man on the planet, and if he says that I'll have to do it.
"And I think you should..."
I held my breath.
"I think you should do more comedy."
Oh Da. I love you so.
"You're funny. You should work on doing more comedy."
"Okay, Da, I'll work on that."
"That's good." He patted my hand. "I love you girl."
"I love you too Daddy."
He smiled and closed his eyes and went to sleep.
He passed away a week later.
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And since I rather contrarily chose to use my "Comedy" spin to tell a bittersweet and decidedly not funny story, I will share with you something out of my Mediocre Career Archives, which Daddy never got to see, but would have appreciated. This was a sweet gig. I come in at 3:13.
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Please, please, pretty please visit the other Comedy spinners and let them make you laugh!
SuziCate at The Water Witch's Daughter
VandyJ at The Testosterone Three and Me
Stacy at Stacy Uncorked - NEW on THURSDAY!
Nain at View From Down Here - NEW on FRIDAY!
Patty at Pancakes Gone Awry - NEW on FRIDAY!
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Next week, our little family will be winging it to the east for a...brace yourselves...THREE WEEK visit to see Mommy and Pop. Jimmy is actually coming with us this year, but only staying a week, leaving Jude and I to fend for ourselves with his family for the rest of the trip. I am clinging to the hope that whatever doesn't kill you gives you tremendous blog fodder.
So next week we have NO SPIN CYCLE. That's right, you get a little vacay.
The Spin Cycle will be back in TWO weeks with the topic...
Family
I'm assuming that after a week with Jimmy's family, I'll have something to say on that subject.
Modern Family, All in the Family, Family Ties, Family Guy, Family Feud, Family Matters, Family Affair, The Addams Family. Man, that's a lot of "family" tv shows that I just came up with off the top of my head.
Share your spin on "Family". Let me know. I'll link it here.
You've got two weeks to work on this people, I'm expecting something good out of you!
Share your spin!
Highlight the code.
Copy to your HTML.
Et voila! Linked!
Wow, that's a beautiful story. My grandfather recently died from renal failure in November, so my heart goes out to you. I know how painful it is and how hard it is to watch a loved one suffer. He would be so proud, though, of what you accomplished.
That clip? So cool. I know a celebrity!
Sorry mine was so late, but here it is: http://viewfromdownhere-viewfromdownhere.blogspot.com/2012/07/in-end-you-just-have-to-laugh-about-it.html
Posted by: Alaina | 07/27/2012 at 05:35 AM
I love the story about you and your dad! What a great memory!
I watched Wings all the time...I remember you! You are funny!
Unfortunately, my Spin is not up yet. I'm hoping to write it, even though it's late. ;)
Posted by: Ginny Marie | 07/27/2012 at 06:24 AM
For a post on comedy, yours had me literally bawling - I mean, using half a box of tissue bawling. *sniffle*
I love the clip; I wish you'd post more of your acting.
*sniffle*
Posted by: Jan's Sushi Bar | 07/27/2012 at 06:36 AM
You made me cry! But this story is awesome. Your dad sounds so great!
Heré's my spin! Thanks for doing this; I haven't blogged much this summer and your prompt helped me think of something to write about. It's been too long!
http://www.pancakesgoneawry.blogspot.com/2012/07/oh-indignity.html
Posted by: Patty | 07/27/2012 at 06:56 AM
And I LOVE your Wings clip! So funny!
Posted by: Patty | 07/27/2012 at 07:02 AM
Such an awesome story--sad but funny too.
Love the clip--too bad the sitcoms these days aren't funny like that--except Big Bang Theory.
Posted by: VandyJ | 07/27/2012 at 09:03 AM
Great story, even if it was sad.
I loved Wings! Great clip.
Posted by: Sarah at 32Flavors | 07/27/2012 at 01:39 PM
I love the Daddy story - such a sweet memory. And I loved that clip! In fact I had to watch the whole episode. It was great! Unfortunately, back when I watched the show I was probably happy at the idea of Helen & Joe getting back together :)
Posted by: The Bug | 07/27/2012 at 03:37 PM
Thanks for sharing your great story. And the clip! We used to watch and love that show so much.
I thought of you the other night when McCartney sang "Hey Jude" to the whole world. If you are in NY I hope you're having a great trip and have the chiropractor lined up for when you get back.
Posted by: Michele R. | 07/29/2012 at 07:33 AM
a bittersweet story.
"bring it on half pint" Do Hollywood types... for lack of a better word... stay in touch or meet up on Facebook or whatever? And you know we would all like to know the dirt. Does everyone get along? How many have "film romances"? I have always heard about Bogie and Bacall but never once heard about Robards!! all the teens upset about the twilight duo... paleeze!!! Give the scoop.
Posted by: Nadine | 07/31/2012 at 06:51 PM