I was debating whether or not to post this, but I suppose there's no harm in it. At about 5:30 pm EDT, I got a call from my mom saying she had news I wasn't gonna like. When she told me, I nearly dropped my phone. Apparently, sometime in the morning of August 21, my old man (aka birth father) was found dead in his apartment. I was in complete shock. I knew he wasn't in the greatest of health, but I never imagined it was that bad. If my fiancee hadn't been there when mom told me, I think I might have completely broke down. I hadn't really talked to my old man in months, and we weren't really very close anymore. I kinda regret that now. He wasn't that great of a father to be honest, but he was my father nonetheless. Admittedly, though, I was proud of his military service, having served over 20 years in 3 of the US Armed Services (Air Force, Marines, and Army National Guard), having earned the rank of Staff Sergeant in all three.

He and my mom split up when I was 2, (I'm 30, now) but he did get occasional visits with me. He kinda disappeared from my life for about 5 years when I was 18, but I decided it was worth it to bury the hatchet with him over that, since it didn't feel right to keep a grudge with him. We never really could get as close as we were when I was a kid, and I also kinda regret that. In the 7ish years since I found him again, despite how much he tried, I never told him I loved him. Now I never can...

Now, since I was his only kid, and he never remarried, his final affairs are left to me. I'm honestly kinda overwhelmed, as I don't know what all needs done, especially where I'm currently out of state. Thankfully, I've already been in contact with the county coroner to get some information, and I'll likely have help from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, too. I want him to have a proper military sendoff. Looking back, I'm actually going to miss his dry and repetitive sense of humor.

At this point, all I can really say is Semper Fi, old man. Maybe I'll see you on the other side someday...

In memory of SSgt Brian McClary (December 31, 1956 - August 20, 2019)