“I've had a life that's full, everyone's been good to me. So fire up that fiddle, boy, and give me one last drink. When the sun comes up, I will leave without a trace. But the world is mine today,” Enter The Haggis sung.
Prepare yourself, dear reader, as ’tis a story as wholesome and as heartbreaking as any. A story of both grief and celebration. Celebration of a life well-lived and a memory that will remain for years to come in the consciousness of millions.
One daughter fulfilled her father’s last wish for a rum & cola. Filming every last minute shared together, she posted the lovely moment on her TikTok account, and thousands came forth to send their love and wish the family all the best. Let’s dive into the details, and please, dear reader, for your own sake, grab some tissues.
More info: TikTok
Penelope Ann faced a moment most children dread - the final goodbye with her dad. But she and her mom thought of something to help his send-off
Image credits: penface
The moment that most children dread had come for Penelope Ann. Her father had reached the end of his life. He’d been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes obstructions in airflow. His fight with a terminal illness had been long and intensive, but it was finally time for him to rest. It would be the last time they got to see each other.
Penelope and her mum made the trip to the hospital. Aiming to capture each lasting moment, she recorded a 15-minute video of their visit. One of those, she shared on her TikTok account. The 27-second clip revealed that she’d snuck in a can of Bundaberg rum & cola - his favorite drink - in the hopes of giving her father the best farewell.
Her father had been battling a terminal illness and it was time to rest. But not before he got a taste of his favorite drink of rum & cola
Image credits: penface
"I came prepared for the send-off,” she said in the footage. "Give him a little taste here," her mom chimed in, telling her husband that they were about to give him his final drink. “We brought you rum, Dad," she said while Penelope prepared the drink. "We’re going to put it in [a syringe] and put it in your mouth."
Penelope leaned in and squeezed the small amount of rum & cola into his mouth. She asked her dad if it tasted nice, and he was seen nodding excitedly, which caused the two women to laugh. "Hell yeah!" Penelope said in the clip. He was gone shortly after.
"We’re going to put it in [a syringe] and put it in your mouth,” her mom said while Penelope prepared the beverage they’d snuck into the hospital room
Image credits: penface
The caption of the video said: "One last drink with Dad before his spirit returned to the universe. Until we cross paths again, old man. I love you."
The video, at the point of writing, has been viewed 2.5M times, with thousands sending their best wishes and praise for the sweet gesture, warming hearts in both Australia and the rest of the world.
They asked him if it tasted nice. He nodded excitedly, causing the two women to laugh. He passed away soon after their visit
Image credits: penface
Penelope has been posting videos on her TikTok since her father’s passing, with the most recent one being a week after he’d left. “Dad gave us a beautiful sunrise,” she said, her mother close by her side. Her dogs had not left her alone since, and her father’s pup, Dinky, has been very confused as to “why dad hasn’t returned home this time, and I wish there was a way for me to explain to him what’s happened.”
“The hardest part was walking in [to my mum’s place] and seeing dad’s seat empty on the couch,” she continued. Penelope ended the video by showing the special bottle of rum her dad had been keeping for decades, but never got to drink. “He always said that he would on his deathbed,” she said.
The places he used to occupy have become lonely. Her father’s pup, Dinky, has been very confused as to "why dad hasn’t returned home this time"
Image credits: penface
The notion of taking one final drink has been a part of humanity for centuries. Alcohol is universally associated with celebration, and drinking is, in most cultures, an essential element of festivity. We toast to others, so why not toast to ourselves for a life well-lived? And to those who are no longer able to take the liquor themselves, the tradition of ‘pouring one out’ can come in handy.
The ceremony is more formally known as making a libation and was first noted in ancient Egypt. There, they often used water instead of alcohol, because water was considered a life-giving liquid.
The Papyrus of Ani, when translated, contains the following passage: “Pour libation for your father and mother who rest in the valley of the dead. Do not forget to do this even when you are away from home. For as you do for your parents, your children will do for you.”
Kate Wight believes that the whole point of the gesture is to include our loved ones in life’s moments, even after their death. A bit of alcohol, a few warm words, and a pour to the land beyond is all that is needed.
The moment was shared on TikTok: "One last drink with Dad before his spirit returned to the universe. Until we cross paths again, old man. I love you"
Image credits: penface
No one prepares you for losing a parent. Regardless of how much you try to imagine the moment, trying to go through each scenario and focus your mind, the heartbreak is unimaginable even to the most skilled in the art of visualization.
Grief hits like a bag of bricks being swung at you with full force, and whether you’ve got your hands up to soften the blow or not, it’ll hurt like hell.
Healthline notes that there is no one way to grieve. Everyone feels and deals with loss differently and it’s completely normal. Remembering that what you feel is valid and letting yourself fully experience the loss are key to beginning the healing process.
Some people work through grief in a short time and move forward with the remnants of their sadness safely tucked away. Others need more time and support, no matter how expected the death was.
We wish the family all the best and lots of strength during this incredibly difficult time
Image credits: penface
It might seem difficult, even inconsiderate, to dedicate time to self-care, but prioritizing your health becomes even more important as you recover from your loss. Life goes on. For more resources and information, you can click the link here.
We wish Penelope and her family strength during this incredibly difficult time and we commend them for doing something so thoughtful for their father and husband.
You can watch the full video here
Hopefully, it’ll inspire others to do the same because, really, who wouldn’t want one last drink before embarking on a journey to a land unknown.
Thousands of people have sent their love and support for the family, also sharing their own experiences
