Thursday, July 21, 2011

The One About the Circle of Life...

I don't think I'll ever forget this past Saturday night. Before turning in for bed, I called my Dad inquiring about his health. On Friday, my father was shopping at the Laie Foodland when he lost consciousness for a couple of minutes. Luckily, he was in the Bakery area and found a bench nearby to rest on. He was released Saturday afternoon from Kahuku hospital. During our conversation, I laughed so hard as my dad recounted the blackout and how a young female employee immediation rushed over only to become completely useless having succombed to shock over my dad's situation. Poor girl. haha.

The fact that he was humourous elicited closure on my end. My father is okay, I assured myself. And then I heard him blackout again.

In my quest to experience life to the fullest, I hadn't completely grasped an important aspect of mortality - that as I grow within the prime of my life, my father further fades from his. Sure, I've watched Lion King (Film and Broadway, mind you...) and understand the Circle of Life. But it had never felt as poignant as I scrambled to reach my dad, notify my family and figure out a way to get to Hawaii immediately.