My Father-in-law and great friend Michael Cottrell of Bristol, England passed away in Swindon on 3 July 2003. He was 67 years young, and died from a massive heart attack. He leaves behind his wife, six children (including Mrs. Bunnyman), and eight grandchildren. I was loved by all who knew him and will be sorely missed.
I will be in England from 13 July-20 July. I also do not believe I can post anything in this week while I am preparing to leave the States.
I will be and opiniated as ever once I get back to the States and get over my grief.
He was a great guy to have as a father-in-law. He took on my wife and her three brothers when marrying my mum-in-law nearly forty years ago, and they were just little kids (my wife being all of three years old). He always had a joke for everyone, and even if it was the corniest joke in the world, you still laughed. He was always having crafty fags (cigarettes), having a little gamble at the betting shops, and asking for a Fiver. He had a heart of gold, and the only Yorkshire Terrier with a smoker’s cough (walking that dog was the excuse for a crafty smoke). And the way that dog loved him was enough to show you that he was a good man.
Yes, I was very blessed to have this man for my father-in-law, and I was very blessed to have gotten to know him the little amount I had. He wasn’t supposed to go this young, you know?
I also am very happy that I told in in not so many words that I respected him immensely for being my wife’s father. He was very modest about what he was to everyone in their family. And I just feel good that he had considered me as a mate (as he says there are very few who are mates in one of our few serious conversations).
I wish that more people could have gotten to know this man’s heart and his sense of humour. But the church can only hold so many, and I am sure that it will be packed to the gills.