I was watching the evening news on television when David came in and stood right in front of me. I have to admit that my thoughts were rambling between the news and David. I knew he had something on his mind and he knew he could talk to me about anything. He also thought I had the answers to everything.

As he stood there, I could sense that he was nervous and wondered if there was something wrong, or if he was just going to ask one of his very serious questions about the rules of the game they were playing. But he was much too serious for that. Now he had my full attention.

He spoke rather quietly when he said, "Daddy, I need to talk to you." To that I said, "Okay Davie, what's on your mind?"

He answered with, "I'm a big boy now, right?" And I answered, "You sure are. Tell me what you're thinking."

He said, "I don't want you to call me Davie anymore, I want you to call me Dave, and I don't want to call you Daddy, I want to call you dad."

With this out he seemed even more serious or nervous. I smiled at him with the proudest smile I think I ever had.

I said, "That will be okay, Dave. I would like to call you Dave or David and look forward to you calling me Dad. But, don't ever call me father, okay?"

He relaxed and said in a very strong voice, "Can I go back out and play now, Dad?" As I said yes, my younger son came over close to me and said, "I still want to call you Daddy."

I said, "I'm so glad you do!"

For the next few days every time David had anything to say to me, he would begin it with Dad. Even if he wanted to know what we were having for supper, he would ask, "Dad, what are we having for dinner?"

It didn't take Mark long to follow suit. I could barely keep the smile off my face! My wife would turn her head to smile.

My son David died July 1, 1993. The night before he died, he and I were talking on the telephone about how he was feeling. About six weeks before he had testicular cancer and had surgery for removal of the cancer. Then they did exploratory surgery to verify that his lymph system was clear of cancer. It was, thank God.

In this telephone conversation, David told me that he was experiencing blurred vision, and numbness in his fingers, as well as slurred speech.  I told him that he would be all right.  He had just gone back to his work too soon after the surgery.  He agreed and said he would slow down a bit.  We both laughed because we both knew he wouldn't slow down.

I said, "I love you Davie." To which he responded with loving laughter, "I love you too, Daddy."

I laughed and said, "Goodnight Davie."

"Goodnight Daddy." He said and we both hung up our telephones.  These were the last words we ever spoke to each other!

The next day at about noon, I was called to be notified that David had been taken by ambulance to the local hospital.  His wife was with him during the trip.  When I got to the hospital he was in a coma.  As the afternoon wore on, we were informed by the doctor that he had a ruptured aneurysm in his brain.  He lived until 7:06 p.m.

As I prayed for his life, many things went through my mind.  The thought of our last words were there, "I love you Davie."

"I love you too, Daddy."

I will forever be grateful to God for these last words. We had no fences to mend. We were in a good relationship. I know him to be a Christian and asked God to welcome him home!  My heart was broken and still is.  I still have my son, Mark.  I try to give Mark all the love that I once gave to both my sons.  He accepts my love and tolerates my protective nurturing.