40. No Doubt about It
Today is the first anniversary of Dad’s passing. I’d committed to writing 40 stories about him as this day approached. Forty Steady Stories.
The picture above is Dad showing off his new biking shirt that he bought for our summer vacation trip in 2008. I love this picture; it's the one that we put on the back of the program for his funeral last January.
I love this picture because it reminds me about Dad and two of his close friends — Sam and Bud — talking about “finishing strong.” They spoke of breaking the tape at the finish line instead of slacking off. Well, the last lap of his race wasn't the one we had all hoped for, but Dad still broke the tape in full stride on December 28, 2020, around 10:45 PM. Here’s what I remember from the last several hours as we said our goodbyes to this fine man.
Dad hadn’t spoken since Christmas day and hadn’t opened his eyes in a couple of days at this point. We’d had numerous conversations with hospice, and they left around 4:00 PM. Our two dear friends and caregivers, John and Anthony, were incredible. Anthony had gone home for a break, and John stayed with us until about 8:45 PM. At that point, Mom, Emma (my wife), and I were in the bedroom with Dad. Dad began breathing a little differently, and we knew Dad was drawing closer to the finish line.
We were playing music and music videos that we knew Dad loved on the TV, and though breathing, he wasn’t moving or responding. Around 9:30 PM, I began telling Dad some things on behalf of family who I knew wouldn’t make it there in time. I spoke for his sister, my Aunt Courtney; my cousins Link, Towny, and Liz; and a few others. At 9:49 PM, I texted Ed and Scott (my brothers) to tell them that the video for their band’s song, “No Doubt About It” had just come on the channel we were watching. Here’s why that’s significant (besides the fact that it’s just a great song): Months prior when they had played that song for me, I immediately said to Ed, “Man, we have to do that song at Dad’s funeral.” And here it was playing providentially an hour before he crossed the finish line and went Home.
At 10:23 PM, I texted Ed and Scott and said, “Very sporadic breathing right now. Believe he’s almost home.” A few minutes later, we put on “All Hail the Power” and the most amazing thing happened. This man who hadn’t spoken for over 3 days and hadn’t opened his eyes in 2 days, had a giant tear drop form on his left eye and then roll down his cheek. It was a marvelous moment to witness.
Ed and Scott then got on Zoom with us, and I put my iPad pointed toward Dad around 10:30 PM. We prayed for him. We sang for him. And when he had taken what we were sure was his very last labored breath, we all shouted for joy and thanked God that the struggle was over, that his race was run, and that the finish line was now behind him. Yes sir, he had indeed finished strong.
Then I played “No Doubt About It” one more time. I’ve included the video below, but here’s the chorus to this wonderful song written by my brothers, my niece, my nephew, and our friend Andrew:
“There’s no doubt about it
I’m on my way home
I’m not yet where I’m going
But I’m a long way from where I was
I hear a choir of angels
Cheering me on
I’m not yet where I’m going
But I’m a long way from where I was”
Now do you see why I told them we needed to sing it at Dad’s funeral?
Dad got where he was going
and he’s a long way from where he was.
We did sing this song at his funeral. After the bridge, we had all twelve grandchildren come up on stage and help sing the chorus.
I know Dad was smiling. And laughing. And definitely dancing.
There’s no doubt about it.
We the Kingdom (Ed, Scott, Franni, and Martin Cash, and Andrew Berghold)
