BONUS
… there is more life after life
Wednesday Mar. 12, 2014
Nice people wrote, called, texted, sent flowers. Some people were nice.
Not everyone.
And I wasn’t nice to everyone in return.
Cranky reality days – added to my 8-hour case of self-pity – would best describe my experiences yesterday.
Feelings leak. Sometimes spew like a fire hydrant.
Apologies to nice people I may have offended.
As for idiots du jour, no apology offered.
One example – The Calgary Sun. My dad had a subscription prepaid till mid April. I called to cancel. Did they offer to refund it? Did they offer to donate it to my favourite charity? Did they handle the call with ease and politeness? No, no and no. It seems ‘died’ isn’t a reason for cancellation on the screen-menu for their call centre staff.
This might be more distressing if it was a good newspaper. Still, it seems bizarre that any large business, notwithstanding the Sun’s obvious journalistic shortcomings, wouldn’t at least have try to use situations like this as a good PR opportunity.
Imagine how many ways they could get it right … if only they wanted to.
And that condominium administrator (perhaps she trained at The Sun), when I asked her for a copy of the by-laws, she barked, “he has them”, as if I should wake my dad up to ask where he put them. I called her boss who, so simply, e-mailed a copy within minutes of being asked.
In bonus-you-wouldn’t-expect department – visited U of C Medical School yesterday to sign papers for my dad’s body donation. I thought they used cadavers to dissect, teach and then cremate them. More to it – some they embalm, some they freeze – depending on how each one is used, on what they are teaching. On average, they use each body for up to 6 years. My dad lived 91 ½ years + 6 more.
It seems PLAN A, comes with a 6 year bonus.
Who knew?
Mark Kolke
198,448
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: 6C / 42F, mostly clear, sunny skies and slippery walks ahead as melt-water over ice remains hazardous (I had one fall, Gusta had two) for a few more days. The freshness – the spring-ness of it is marvelous ...
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
Mark, So very sorry to hear about your dad's death and your loss. It is wonderful that you were there with him and it must have given him comfort to know you were there. Take care, this is a time to give yourself time to rest and grieve, and look after yourself, PC, ?
Dear Mark, I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences. May you find comfort and peace in your very special memories of your dad, SP, Calgary
It is so hard to explain to those whose parents are living how this loss feels. No matter the age nor the health condition of our parents, we morn the loss. I can tell from the way that you have written about your father how precious he was to you. I am sure that you were an excellent, caring son and he was lucky to have you. When I lost my parents in 2007; they died within a few days of each other. I was distraught and someone said to me: "during this time you should think of all the wonderful memories of your parents" and that really helped me to get through my sorrow. They would not want us to be sad and so we should celebrate their lives and smile about the times that would bring us JOY.I wish this for you Mark, CG, Cobourg, ON
Hello Mark, You might not remember me I am a member of Waters Edge Toastmasters Club; the writing below really touched me. My dad died in Mexico (he was 83 years old and was sick for many years), I was in Canada and unable to see him. We can’t change the past and can’t predict the future, be with him ... he needs you and you need him, don’t miss this opportunity. Best regards, MCC, Calgary, AB
