Posted By:
LarryTo those that read this....
My father, Murray Gladstone was a man who worked for the painting industry for 60+ years and married to my mother for 59 years. He died this weekend of lung cancer. Unfortunately due to circumstances of having BOTH parents that were living with major health issues at the same time, their entire retirement went to paying medical and household bills during the last several years. My mother, who survived a recent heart attack cannot live alone in her modest condo anymore, she lost her husband and we had to put her 15 year old sick dog to sleep. Now we have no option but to help her with assisted living as we have 3 young children and it is so difficult to have her climb stairs and live alone. My wife and I are lucky enough that we can fund her assisted living for now. Both of my parents lost almost everything and yet they lived life without the fear of losing their material possessions, the biggest fear now is my mom will be ALONE, without the husband she adored, that is the worst part of getting old, not losing your baseball cards.
Mr. Carter is blessed to have Doug Allen help him sell his collection and leave his legacy on plastic slabs, unfortunately my benevolent father is leaving his legacy on a granite slab. Hopefully all of those that read this will put life in perspective. We have a short window here on earth and are just custodians of these cards and possessions, our true measure of a quality life should be how we treated others while we are alive. My dad's funeral was packed with all types of people, young and old, rich and poor, and for that he died a rich man, as he will be always loved and remembered......I hope Mr. Carter uses the money to enjoy his family while he can and I pray he will not have to endure the pain of suffering health issues.
Thank You and please say a prayer for my dad, a World War 2 veteran, loving father, and mostly a compassionate human being.