Brendon Thornton
– Dad was there the whole time we had Kellen and Meryle. We would see him and he would come up and see us. A favorite pastime was eating at Souplantation.- Another favorite was when we would go to the YMCA pool in Encinitas. Dad would meet us there, or for dance lessons, and then we would hang out at Starbucks, and chat while I worried about the children falling into the fountain.- Hiilstreet Café was another fine hangout we went to with Dad.- For our visits to Dad's house, he was always quick with a stick of gum, or ice cream and cones, or a pickle for Meryle. The twins loved his magic coin box.- When Dad was having trouble speaking at the SNF nearby to our house in Vista, he had a lovely way of â??rolling his expressionâ? to say â??what can you do about it?â? We visited with him the few days he was there with Meryle and Kellen.- The night before his last day on Earth, Nurse Edehla told me how he found a great strength and insisted and made it to sitting upright on the edge of his bed. Nurse told him the next day, after he was spent, how he should call me over. He did. And that was the last day.- At great effort, he saw Kellen and spoke his name. He was trying to say something. I asked him to use the pen and paper, and he scribbled a word. After about ten minutes, with effort I recognized the word as â??Howâ? and then realized, he was saying â??Kellen, how are you?â? And Dad nodded.- Meryle and I show Dad the plans for the classic Dinghy I bought myself for my birthday, and I tell Dad I am building it. Dad looks over to Meryle, and says â??You can name it the â??Jimmy.'â? And so it shall be named.