My father passed away in his sleep sometime around 4am today.

I'm three hours away from my parents.

The last 20+ years of his life were spent in near constant pain.
1990 - Upper spinal surgery (replaced 3 with synthetics)
1992 - Broken nose while on duty
1994 - Lowers spinal surgery (only discs replaced)
1995 - Accident cuts off tips of some fingers
1997 - My brother dies
2000 - Liver transplant
2002 - Three hernia operated on
2005 - Another hernia operation
2007 - Glacostomy *sp?* bag, 3 different types of cancers detected
2008 - Lymph cancer diagnosed, terminal (January?)

I cry that he's gone, and there will be things he will not get to see. If I get married, have kids, things like that. But part of me is glad he's no longer in pain. His mind had slipped the last two months and he called me on my birthday (August 1st) and simply said, "Happy birthday." In the background I could hear him asking mom who was it he was speaking to and why he had to call.

I love you dad, and rest well. You've earned it.