Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Siste hilsen/ The last farewell

Pappa er død. Lørdag 25. desember 2010 sovnet han stille inn, etter å ha tilbragt den siste måneden på intensivavdelingen på sykehuset i Kristiansand. Han ble 77 år gammel.

Pappa var bonde hele sitt liv- en stor mann, høy og sterk, og med digre never. Det var ikke mange som våget å yppe seg når han var i nærheten! Faren hans døde i tysk fangenskap under krigen, da var pappa 10 år gammel, fire år senere døde veslesøsteren av leukemi,og det satte spor. Han måtte tidlig ta ansvar hjemme, med både frukthage og bigård, men han og den andre søsteren hadde likevel en god oppvekst med sin mor. Pappa var skogsarbeider, han drev gården, han bygde utallige brygger og uteplasser og basseng til hyttefolk i bygda. Han var glad i å jakte, så hver høst var han vekk på jakt ei ukes tid og noen helger. Han var veldig glad i unger, og ungene var glade i ham. Det er ikke få kvelder nevøen hans sovnet i fanget på ham når vi hadde vært hos tante E.!Han giftet seg med mamma i 1962, og de fikk oss tre døtrene. Barnebarna kom forholdsvis sent, men da kom de som perler på en snor! 8 stykker ble det tilslutt, den yngste er 8, den eldste 18. Han hadde sans for unger som fant på ting...Han hadde stor sans for humor, var god til å fortelle historier, og husket mye. De siste årene har yngste søsteren min overtatt gården, men pappa hadde fortsatt styringa på mye- som nå da hun skulle legge kjettinger på traktoren...hvor har pappa lagt dem??? Han var med på skogen, og i slåtten, det var han som hadde ut kunstgjødsel i vår, og han som sa når slåtten skulle begynne...

Begravelsen var 30.12.10. Den ene søsteren min leste minneordet- varmt og personlig, og akkurat slik vi husker ham. Hun hadde også funnet og satt sammen to dikt som jeg leste i kirken, forfattere ukjent, men det passet så bra! Vi tre døtrene, og våre førstefødte, fikk bære ham til det siste hvilestedet.

Plassen står tom.

Krakken i fjøset står tom på golvet.
Trofaste hender har nå fått si lønn.
Hender som lytta til gråten i verden,
knyttet til arbeid, eller foldet i bønn.

Plassen er tom, ja plassen er tom.
Plassen til far står tom og trist.
Men opp av den plassen så stiger det minner,
og far fikk den beste plassen til sist.

Pusteromsbenken står tom i stua,
plassen til far,- han kvilte seg der.
Herfra kom humor og stillfaren visdom,
til oss og til andre som satte seg ned

Din latter var aldri langt unna, og smilet var som regel på plass,
selv om du opp igjennom årene hadde dratt på et tungt lass.
Du hadde humøret, og når du fikk besøk var du blid,
jeg kommer til å savne den vinkende handa di.

Jeg har bare gode minner med deg, kjære far
om den omsorgsfulle personen som du var.
Jeg aner ikke hvordan jeg kan fortsette på livets vei,
når du ikke lenger er her og kan veilede meg.

Plassen er tom, ja plassen er tom.
plassen til far står tom og trist.
Men opp av den plassen så stiger det minner,
og far fikk den beste plassen til sist.

Vi unner deg hvilen, men savner deg sårt.


My father died on Dec. 25th, 2010. He was 77 years old. He spent the last month in the intensive care unit at the nearest hospital. A long life has come to an end.
Dad was a farmer all his life. He had to start early- his father died during WWII, his mother was left with my 10 yearold dad and his 7yearold sister. The youngest daughter was born later that year, but died only four years later of leukemia. Despite all this, they had a good life. They had an apple orchard, and bees. Dad helped out, and later he ran the farm with good help from his mother. He and mom got married in 1962, and had us three daughters. They also got 8 grandchildren, between 18 and 8. He loved kids, and they loved him. He preferred the mischivious ones...;-)
Dad loved hunting, and went off hunting almost every weekend when we grew up. He had a great sense of humour, and was always telling stories or teasing.
My youngest sister owns the farm now, but she and dad was working together, and he still had a lot to say...he decided when to start harvesting, he decided when and where they would plough the land, where to plant new trees, or where to chop down the trees.
The funeral was held in the old church at home, on Dec. 30, 2010. My sister read the memorial, and had also found two poems that I read- and they suit dad so well! My sisters and I, and our oldest children, carried him out of church and to his last resting place.
The place is empty.
The barn stool stands empty.
Faithfull hands have gotten their pay.
Hands that heard the worlds' cry
knotted to work, or folded in prayer.
The chair is empty, yes the chair is empty.
The chair stands empty and sad.
But from that chair comes memories
and dad got the best place at last.
The resting place in the house is empty,
Dad's sofa, he rested there.
From here came humour and quiet witt
to us and others that were nearby.
Your laughter was never far away, a smile was usually there.
Even though you through the years had pulled a heavy load.
You had humour and enjoyed having visitors.
I will miss seeing your waving hand.
I have only good memories of you, dear dad.
Of the loving person you were.
I don't know how I can cope on the road of life
when you no longer are here to lead me.

The chair is empty, yes the chair is empty.
The chair stands empty and sad.
But from that chair comes memories
and dad got the best place at last.
Rest in peace...




29 comments:

Ruth said...

Kondolerer, Marit. Så fryktelig trist. Det er som om veggene rundt en forsvinner når foreldrene faller i fra.

Jeg skal holde deg i tankene mine. Stor klem fra meg.

STRIKKEMOR(O) said...

Kondolerer. Det var trist.

Silja said...

Kondolerer Marit! Jeg sitter her med tårer i øynene etter å ha lest minneordet! *klem*

YarnThrower said...

Marit - I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like such a wonderful, caring, hard-working, resilient man. May he rest in peace. God's strength to you!

Elin said...

Så fint du har skrive om far din! Kondolerer.

Knitting Linguist said...

Oh, Marit. You have my most sincere condolences - he sounds like a wonderful man, and I know he will be much missed.

Caffeine Girl said...

My deepest condolences. Your father sounds like such a wonderful man, good and hardworking and loving. You must be missing him very much.

Your post was a lovely tribute to him, and the poem is very moving.

Christine said...

Marit, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Stay strong and keep the faith. My mom and dad are both gone and I was especially close to my father. Holidays can be cruel.

aimee said...

Marit,
My condolences to you and your family. I lost a parent and another family member not so long ago too and it is difficult-I know. You will be in my prayers and thoughts.

What a great tribute to your dad--you can tell that he made a loving impact on your life, just the way you speak of him! I love the line where you speak about him loving kids--especially the mischievious ones:)

May God bring you comfort and peace.

Blessings,
Aimee

vonnie said...

Sincere sympathy to you and your family, Marit. Blessed are those memories. ((big hug to you))

Judy said...

Oh, Marit, my heart bleeds for you. The tribute to your Dad was so touching. He must have been a wonderful man. Thanks for sharing the poem, even though it made me cry here at the store.
Love and hugs to you.

Ati said...

Kondolerer Marit.Det gjør så uendelig vond når en som du elsker høyt forsvinner for alltid fra livet ditt.
Som du skev så fint er der masse gode minner. De blir sterkere og bedre med årene. Klem, Ati.

Gina said...

Marit my friend I am so sorry. i have no words that will comfort you but just know that I am here for you.
Sending my thoughts to you and all your family

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Ninne said...

Å så fryktelig trist, Marit. Kondolerer! Du skriver så flott oom ham, han har vært en staut bonde og engod far og bestefar. Jeg skulle ønske jeg kune gitt deg en ordentllig varm klem helt på ordentlig nå! Tenker på deg!

Mrs Moog said...

Oh Marit, I'm so sorry for your sad loss. It's always hard to lose one you love but somehow harder at Christmas time.

Your Dad sounds like a remarkable man and your tribute to him is so moving. You and your family are in my thoughts at this sad time.

Heidelweiss said...

Marit, I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like an amazing man. What a beautiful tribute this is to him.

Anonymous said...

Du fikk omskrevet det fint dette. Den ene forfatteren av dikta heter Torolf Nordbø,( Plassen står tome)
Kristin Søster

Caroline said...

My most sincere condolences, Merit. What a beautiful tribute you wrote to your dad. My grandpa was a farmer, and there is something about those people that make them extra special. Your dad sounds like he was a wonderful person.

Anonymous said...

My deepest sympathies Marit. We are never ready to lose a parent, and I am happy for you that you have so many good memories of him. A little quote that I have always loved,

When a loved one become a memory,
That memory become your Treasure.

:)

Tracy said...

Oh, Marie... I am so very, very sorry for the loss of your father! What a lovely man he was... My heart & thoughts go out to you & your family just now. May you find comfort in the love that surrounds you by family & friends, peace in happy memories. This is such a lovely tribute to your dear father. Somewhere he is smiling, I am sure of it. :o) We never really love those we love as long as we keep them alive in our heart. Be taking good care... ((HUGS))

QuiltedSimple said...

Sorry to hear about your loss....Your father sounds like a wonderful person and you have many, many good memories of him. Blessings to you and your family
Kris

Anonymous said...

Hugs Marit. Your father sounded like a hardworking loving man who got the most he could from life and loved it.
It is so hard when there is a hole left by a loved one. Hugs and thinking of you all. Write down all you can of the stories he told you so they can be in the family for generations to come.

Michaela said...

This post made me sad and made me smile - he sounds like a wonderful man and will no doubt be greatly missed. My sympathies to all of your family.

To lose a parent must be one of the most difficult things - to have known someone for so long, your whole life infact. My love to you all.

Anonymous said...

Kondolerer, Marit. Det bar trist. Stor klem fra England.

Joyce across the Pond said...

I'm sorry to hear that Dad has passed on...my deepest sympathy and may you all know God's tender care in the days ahead.
I've just come over from Anni's blog and will bookmark your blog so that I can enjoy it more!
Best Wishes

Jamie said...

What a lovely, touching tribute to a special man. He sounds like the kind of father everyone should have. I hope you will be comforted in your loss.

Ragnhild said...

Å, så trist, Marit! Kondolerer! Han har gitt dere et godt liv - fullt av gode minner å leve videre på. Stor klem

Rani said...

Marit, I am just reading the post about your father now - January. I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a strong, loving man. My condolences to you and to your family. The passing of a parent is a profound moment. Thinking of you.

Cybèle said...

With holidays and all that, I didn't keep up with blog reading very much, and have only just read your entry about your father. My sincerest condolences.