Had taken better care of himself, eating right, exercising….you know the drill…
He would have turned 80 today. But no, he oversalted his food, ate way too much red meat, didn’t visit a doctor regularly, took prescription pills meant for other people (real smart; and keep in mind my dad worked in the medical profession, he was an x-ray technician) and in May 1987, he passed out at work. Testing found out he had heart problems and diabetes (which is why he’d lost weight, without dieting), his place of employment, UCSD Medical Center, had to send him over to Kaiser Permanente (which I still think is odd, but that was his medical insurance provider), they put him in ICU and the first morning after the first night his heart didn’t stop during his sleep, they did a stress test and sent him home.
He died the next night. The day before Mother’s Day, 1987. I found the Mother’s Day card he had for mom in her effects. He’d never had a chance to sign it.
He was 58 years old.
Well, anyway, happy birthday Dad! Hope you’re having a hell of a party now that mom’s back with ya.
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