....His Last Words...Part II

My father finished his life on his terms. He left this life making a choice to leave. The week before he died he told me "I'm ready to go home." And it was on this note that I remember his strength. We didn't neccesarily get along but I never questioned his love. Perhaps the moment I remember most is when my father told me he was ready to go home and I told him how everything I had done in my career was to make him proud...to hear him say "I know...and I guess I wasn't very good at saying anything about it" was enough for me to know...he knew...and he was proud.

Are You Jiggly?

Megan has started a habit of going up to random people and shaking the bottom side of their arm. Once she does it she looks at the person and says "you have jiggly!" Not exactly the type of thing anyone wants to hear. Especially when Megan follows it up by saying "You have jiggly because you eat lots of jell-o!" When my cousin and her husband, who is a Marine, came down for a visit. Megan politely told him "put your arm up...I need to see if you have jiggly." As he flexed his muscle Megan couldn't shake anything...it was strong and firm. Megan, being surprised, looks back at me and says "Daddy! JD does NOT have jiggly...he does not eat jello!!! But daddy, you do." Good grief...I have jiggly....I feel like dancing to some Will Smith....and maybe getting Jiggly Wit It....

Bill Avila

....His Last Words....Part I

I remember when my father called me to speak to me about his sickness. At the time he called he was already in the hospital for a number of months and was very ill. I knew that he wasn't going to get any better but knowing my father as the strong person he was I always assumed he would fight through it. A few days before he passed he called me on the phone. He was always to the point so he didn't waste any time to let me know that he was tired and ready to go home (heaven). I remember weeping on the phone and he counsoled me that everything was alright. As i wept I remember he made a joke concerning the White Socks. He said "I waited all these years to see them win the World Series and now they have." It was his way of saying..he had no regrets concerning his decision.

In the days leading up to his death some amazing things happened. He came to know the Lord while in the hospital. He attitude changed and he was excited in a way i had never seen before. He INISISTED that we baptize him and we tried to accomidate his wishes in everyway. So I called the pastor who frequently visited with my parents to let him know of my father's wishes. He went out to the hospital right away. This part of the story is what was told to me by the minister.

Minister: (Voice Mail Message) Hey Bill, we went over to the hospital to baptize your father and this has to be the hardest baptism Ive ever performed! (laughing) Since your father can't leave the bed and he has so many tubes and devices hooked up to him we could barely move him. So we borrowed some buckets and we poured a little water to the back of his head and the water ran into a bucket. I told your father - Guillermo, I don't want to get you so wet that you go home to the Lord sooner then you have to! Your father laughed...and we got through it OK.

....To be continued.....

I was setup...

So there I was sitting on the couch taking in the day. Connor, my 7 year old son, notices me and sits down next to me.

Connor: "Daddy, are you having a bad day?"

Me: "Yeah, it hasnt been easy for sure"

Connor: "I bet all the kids drive you crazy sometimes huh"

Me: "Sometimes"

Connor: "Yeah, sometimes the other kids drive me crazy when I'm playing spiderman in my room"

Then Connor puts his hand on my shoulder...

Connor: "Everything will be good...oh yeah...so NOW can I play the Wii?"