My father died a few days before Christmas, and his funeral was on the 27th of December. It was a hard time, but his death was not unexpected. He had been fighting cancer for three and a half years, and it was clear that he was slowly losing the battle. My mother called every few weeks to update me on his progress, as the cancer ate him alive.

Now that he's gone, I count his accomplishments and the love he showed my mother and his sons. Most of my friends are middle aged (I am 52), and when I added it up, five of us had lost a parent in the last two years. Again, not unexpected; once your parents get up into the 70's, they go.

What's amazing is the shock that still accrued. It was jarring to get the news that my father was dead, and I still feel like I haven't fully processed the fact. I keep seeing him laying in that casket, and as they lowered him into the cold earth. My father is dead, and I will never see him on this earth again. That is a hard thing to face.

Other people out there lose a parent in the last year or two? Miss them, or glad they're gone? I am amazed at how many people say their parents, especially their father, were abusive, and it's better they're gone. I don't feel that way at all, and I'm very sorry for those of you out there who had this experience.