My Birthday

44 years ago my Dad was celebrating that he has a boy, Me. He was so proud and excited because He was such a traditional man. Having a son was a really big deal...he wanted to pass the family name on through his oldest boy. One promise I gave dad was to call his friend, Denis on my birthday, because that is what he did every November 4th because of an incident that Denis was involved with because of my birth. I have kept that promise so far.

Happy birthday Dad!

Every year on June 12th a sign with big red "July 12th" would be tacked up on the living room beam. This was so that no one would miss my Dad's Birthday. He would make sure that it was there for at least a month and some times longer. He would wake up at the crack of dawn and do what ever he wanted to do...It could be fishing going a walk in the woods. At 12:01 midnight he would sit in his LazyBoy chair and say "I can't believe that my birthday is over...yea, my Dad cherished this special day and I encourage that everyone should have the same attitude on their birthday. Well, HAPPY BIRTDAY, DAD! Love ya!

Writing for Life

The time has come for me to write. I have started this blog to honor my father, write out my feelings and experience with dealing with the loss. I have also started this to write. It is opened to the public. So, anyone who stumbles across this can read it and make comments if they like.
My father had his opinions of what to do and he may have tried to encourage me to do "what is right" (according to him in a lot of cases) He would give his two cents than leave it up to me to make the decision. He would encourage this writing but he would also say "don't give up your Day job". Well, Dad, I have not "giving up my day job" but I am working towards creating a new opportunity for myself and my family...by writing. Perhaps one day with hard work and luck You all will be reading something from Shawn O'Neil.

Messages

Once in a while I receive what I call "messages". They are usually a one sentence statement. I could rationalize it as my subconsciousness coming to the front or I could call it a message from God. This is something I always debated with myself...is it really God or is it just me thinking about an issue so much that my brain still works on it subconsciously and finally puff a one sentence pops into my head. Regardless of what it is...they are usually profound and they some times (believe it or not) are prophetic. I would prefer it to be the later, though. Well this blog has been dedicated to my dad so most of the themes that I write usually involve him. One of the "messages" I received was "My dad gave me something" I mention this to my wife and her immediately responded was..."it was Finn" You see Finn was born after my dad died and he always wanted me to have a boy (I may have mentioned this in a previous post). We were giving it one more try and I indicated that this would be the last child no matter what sex the baby was. I even got "the operation" before I even knew what we were going to have. Finn was born and he does so many little traits that my dad use to do. My Dad would had been very proud of Finn (although he would be proud of all his grand kids) but Finn in my father's eyes is the heir to the O'Neil Throne.

Spring is within smell

Yes, If you walk out side and sniff...you can smell dirt, fresh air, a certain texture in the air that, well, smells like spring. It isn't quit here but it looms like hope of better days. Spring is usually a fresh start. That is what awaits me...a fresh start...My job will be changing. I will be in the same organization but will have a different role. I'm neither happy nor sad about it. I just need to take it as it comes. I know my dad would have had words of wisdom like this or he would have said "how can they (meaning my work) do that to you without consulting you first". After thinking about it he would have both. Oh, well at least I have a job.

It has been a long time!

I have not written in a long time on this blog. I guess I am not a blogger. But regardless I will use this as a tool to enhance my writing progress. Hopefully I will get good enough to keep it up and add thing as I go.
The main reason for this blog or I should say the 1st reason I started this blog is for my dad. It has been seven years since he moved on to that next adventure. It seems short yet it seems long if that makes any since.

Going to Washing DC

I haven't written on this for a long time. This site is considered my personal (but Shared)site. So Grammar and spelling isn't as important as other sites. (although I will try my best to correct things). I will be heading down to see President elect Obama be sworn in. I received tickets from the Bernie Sander office (thanks Senator Sanders!) My two daughter will be heading down with me. I was asked by a local news channel (wtpz, channel 5) to blog for them (not here but thier own blog). Click on the title and it will lead to our adventures in DC. My Dad would have been bragging about this adventure. (and would have giving me "the talk" about what to do in a big City).

Humor is healing & remember thru song

I've been thinking of my dad lately. Something funny would come up in my life and I would think "what would Dad do in this situation?" or "I bet you dad would do this..." My dad could make the best of any situation and if he didn't like the situation he would ignore it (some times with that I'm ignoring you...although I'm very annoyed with you look). Humor can be very powerful in almost any situation. Yea, one may say that there are some serious situation that humor is not appropriate. But than again life can be taking "to serious" sometimes. I'm not saying to crack jokes during a funeral. Although almost every funeral that I've been to there has been some laughter because some relative would remember a humorous story of the desist. All I'm saying is that if you take a step back from those "serious situations" you may be surprised to see humor in it"
I remember how nervous and afraid I was when I spoke at my fathers funeral or celebrating his life. The thing that gave me strength to do it was this is what dad would want me to do. I actual could feel him standing there next to me with his hand on my back (some times trying to make me laugh by poking me than acting as though he didn't do it). I remember looking out from the pulpit looking at the filled to the brim little church. I took a deep breath and remembered that I was the eldest boy of this legendary Dick O'Neil, I was my "father's eyes" (eric clappton song, click on title).

New Orleans Katrina releif trip

 Check my video out of my trip. Unfourtantly I only got the 1st part up on You Tube. Perhaps later...click on the title:)

The O'Neil Throne

It has been a long time since I have written anything on this blog. But to continuing the theme of my Dad...My dad is still in my heart and I think of him off and on. The pain of his death is not so bad any more. The really strange thing is that I feel that he has "Moved on". He has gone on to that other place that we mere humans don't totally comprehend. I do think that he hears me through what we call prayer and perhaps peaks down upon his earthly family once in a while. But he is not in our domain.So We all go on with our lives.
Here is Finn, The grandson who my father never met...the heir to the O'Neil Throne, as My dad always said about me...I guess I am now the king and Finn is the prince.

Finding your center

I told myself many years ago that I would believe in what I believe in and not worry about what others thought. I also learned to center myself when the world is chotic around me. I take 3 deep breaths and feel this energy in the center of me (some people call it your sakra) I usually can deal with what ever the crisis is.

My dad and me

My Dad's Final breath

It has been 2 years and 8 months since my father died of lekemia. Four of my sisters, my step mother, two of my dad's friends and their spouses were all there in the hospital room when he drew his final breath. My step mom and I were holding his hands when he passes away. My four sisters surrounded the bed with there hands on him. He made one last gasp for air, squeesed Cathy's (step-mom) and my hand than left his body. My sisters and stepmom exploded into heart wrenching crying. I couldn't . I bended over, kissed his forehead and said goodbye. I quess I felt I had to be the "strong one" since I was the oldest boy. I greived later on my own.

Missing one sister and brother


Husband, Daddy, Brother, Uncle, Friend and son.