Phaedrus,

You said: "..I sorely wish he could have breathed his last under a canopy of stars or standing in a stream with a fly rod instead of in a hospital bed.."

Next time you look up at that canopy of stars look closely... and you will find your dad smiling lovingly upon you. He will be there always.
Shapes may change, but...
Life never ends, my friend.

My condolences.

Pharaoh.
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-Smile and the world smiles with you. Fart and you stand alone-