SENOBIO FLORES

On June 10, 2009 at around 10 am while at work, I received a call from my wife Brenda. She is needed at Kaiser Permanente by her Mother and the attending physicians to discuss the removal of her father's life support systems. My father in-law has been on dialysis for the longest time and little by little, the quality of life went and gone. Dad had suffered a stroke and given the state of his conditions, the physicians suggested to discontinue life support, and with all the family members in agreement, support systems were discontinued and DNR. He has been moved to a hospice where he's given morphine drips to ease his pain and suffering. He has 2, 3, 4 days of life left, his Doctors said. I left work early to go see him. I know that I will cry for I already am while writing.

I'm uncomfortable of going. I have an insight of what to expect. It's sad enough and it's gonna get worse. I'm gonna see my wife, daughter, mother and sis-inlaw, cry it out. Although I'm a big man, I know I won't be able to hold back my emotions. I am prepared though, I brought my dark sunglasses to cover my eyes. I know it's gonna be difficult. Every breath he takes will be heavy. My wife wants me to bring an air mattress and sleeping bags. She says it's alright to spend the night there. I tried to tell her that she should do something to occupy her mind such as going to work, but she refused.

A hospice provides comfort for the terminally ill patients to their last breath of air. It's really a sad place. All patients and their families have the same in common. Shortly after I arrived, the patient next door passed away. I had a few words with the daughter and I learned that she had bone cancer. She further explained that she suffered plenty of pain...non stop pain similar to a toothache. I went to the chapel and prayed for her soul, and also asked Jesus to take my father in-law by the hand and keep him by his side, and ask for his forgiveness and to always guide us to safety. In the room, my father in-law just laid there. "Dad! It's Sonny, I'm here", I said, and momentarily, he opened his eyes and gave me a smile, then he closed his eyes right away. I had flashbacks of the good old days when we went to Las Vegas together with he and mom, (Brenda's sister) Debbie, her boyfriend, Brenda and me. He went to get us rooms. A room for Brenda and Debbie and a room for me and Debbie's boyfriend. He had us paired incorrectly in separate rooms, but we switched the moment he and mom went in their room. He is a great man and very straight forward. He said what he liked or disliked about you. He told me that if I ever hit my wife, he would kick my ass to Timbucto, and I knew he meant it, that is if there's any more left of me for my wife will surely beat the sh_t out of me first.

Yesterday, I arrived at the Citrus Hospice at about 2 pm. There were many people there to visit their belove ones. You can feel the emotions of sadness in the air, the suffering of the terminally ill, and the sensation of the many lost souls that are trapped and lingers within the walls. I stopped to check the bulletin board, and two must have gone for I see two new ones. As for Dad, signs are apparent that he nears the inevitable. His skin color has changed, due to the heart weakening to pump blood all around his body. His breathing is now louder, as if he is gasping for air. I tried to wake him, but he is unresponsive. Since he has kidney failure and no longer receives dialysis, the toxins in his blood have taken its toll...he begins to drown in his own body fluid. In my thought, I asked Jesus to stop his suffering, take his hand and guide him to heaven...please Lord?

On Saturday, I had to work. It was lunch time and I was just about to take a bite on my burger when my phone rang. It was Brenda crying. "Dad has gone to heaven," she said. At 12:01 pm, he suffers no more. He is now in heaven...in a better place. God bless his soul and pray for us all. And now, the heartaches begin.

Brenda wanted her Dad's viewing and rosary to be held on Saturday, but the mortuary was fully booked. It would have been great since Saturday was her birthday, but on Sunday, June 21, 2009 is just as significant for it's Father's Day. It seems awkward, but to my understanding , we hold such an event to celebrate the life of our dearly departed.

Anyhow, Sunday morning was gloomy, but the sun peeked in and out as the day progressed and totally prevailed in mid-afternoon. We arrived at the mortuary at noontime eventhough viewing doesn't start until 2 pm. It was an excellent idea. Indeed, we had the place privately to ourselves so we really cried it out before the guest arrived, similar to the preparations of a mixed martial arts fighter prior to entering the octagon of an Ultimate Fighting Championship. I'm ugly as it is and even uglier when I cry and I'm glad no one saw it.

Many gathered at the Pierce Brothers Mortuary in San Gabriel, CA to honor and celebrate his life. His childhood friends and relatives from New Mexico and Arizona were here. My son James and my daughter Carole and most of my relatives were also here. Ohgie, Angelo, Glenn, Lito, Gudy and Daisy, and Rene's sons Mark and Peter all of Pinoy Riders USA dropped by and Dennis Banez of the Juan Dela Cruisers also dropped by.

Thank you so much for taking the time-out away from your families on Father's Day to come to the mortuary. Your presence could not have come at a better time. Brenda and I really enjoyed seeing your friendly faces there. It is gestures like yours which helped give us the strength and courage to endure the heartaches we suffer. We are deeply touched to receive the generous and thoughtful gifts...prayers and sympathies. We truly appreciate your thoughfulness and we shall forever be grateful. I have never felt so honored to have you as my friends and it's your friendship that has helped and will get us through this difficult time.

Afterwards, we gathered at the Flores residence for a repast. We employed the service of a famous caterer specializing in chicken, carnitas, and carne asada Tacos. This guy is fantastic. He trailered in his own kitchen, eight large folding tables and one hundred folding chairs. It was quite a set up and I must say, "he really knows his Tacos." They were tasty! It's the best tacos I ever had....well, not quite as good as mine, but they're good Tacos.

On Monday, we got up at around 7 am in preparation for the funeral. The weather was perfect...temperature in the mid 80s with no traces of clouds in sight. The mass starts at 10 am, but we had to be in the church at around 9 am. The hearse was already there when we arrived. I had a flashback of a funeral Dad and I attended and Dad jokingly told me to take a good look at my last ride someday. The hearse we saw was a Lincoln Continental and the one he's on now is a Cadillac Deville, which was his favorite brand. He will have a long ride to Riverside National Cemetery in it.

Todays attendance was not as many as yesterday. It seems, only family, relatives, and dearest friends were here, probably because it's a working day. Surprisingly, Lito of Pinoy Riders USA was here once more. He has taken the day off to attend and shoot videos of the funeral. Thank you so much. I'm at your disposal when you move to Palmdale, so let me know!

I was one of the pallbearer and Dad, together with the coffin was pretty heavy. I was worried for the two elders at each end of the other end at the feet area who are in their mid 70s who may trip over and hurt themselves. Then, I was told that the head area where I was at is heaviest. Gee whiz! No wonder I was having a hard time.

The mass was over at 11 am. We opted out of motorcycle escort since it was about 60 miles to Riverside National Cemetery and after giving out directions and intructions where to meet, off we went.

All made it safe and sound to staging area number 5 where we waited to 1 pm for further instructions. I heard they bury 30+ veterans a day in here. Dad served in the US Navy during the Korean War. Burial for a veteran and a spouse at a national cemetery is one of the benefits earned when you served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

It was exactly 1 pm when a representative of the Department of Defense arrived. As a veteran myself, I was expecting punctuality and it was. She led us to the committal shelter where Senobio Flores received a military funeral honors ceremony, including gun salute, folding and presenting the United States burial flag to Mom, and the playing of Taps. It was a sight to see. I have now an insight of how my funeral will be.

After we said our final goodbyes to Dad, off we went to another repast. This time, it was at Hometown Buffet at the Moreno Valley Mall. We were so hungry, we ate everything. It's for certain...Hometown lost out on this group. We are forever grateful to all who felt our loss and for us. Thank you so much for being there. He shall always be in our hearts.