Funeral Day
Today was my dad’s funeral. As we sat in the car, ready to head to the church, I noticed that even through the cold, insistent rain on this gloomy day, there were a bunch of daffodils, blooming gloriously out of season. A full two months early. How? Somehow that seemed such a beautiful, hopeful, thing. (Somehow, I don’t really want to write about the funeral itself. It was performed well, attended well, the kids did well, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better or...
Read MoreVisitation
Today was the visitation for my dad at the funeral home. Sue and I arrived before things really got underway. My dad looked better than I’d hoped, peaceful, even a slight smile. They’d provided some pins, so I could add the two hearts to the spray of flowers in his casket. When it was time to receive folks, I felt so awkward at first, standing around, not knowing the folks who had come, I didn’t know what to do with myself. But then when more people started to arrive, I...
Read MoreTwo Hearts
The funeral director had told us that sometimes folks like to put something in the casket. Somehow, we came up with the idea of the two hearts that the kids put in Steve’s birthday bear. We didn’t want to cut into the bear, though, so Brandon went to the mall first thing this morning after taking the kids to school. He asked if he could buy just the two hearts, and, it turns out, they really aren’t allowed to let folks take the hearts individually at all (because they can...
Read MoreSad Day
My dad passed away early this morning. He was 66. Sue and I were by his side. The hospice and home care nurses really are amazing people. They helped us out so much. It was really hard telling Brian. I’m glad Brandon was with me to help when we told him. (edit: I’m sorry, I can’t bring myself to write much more about my dad’s passing, even months later. It’s not that it was bad, in fact, it really wasn’t. It’s just.. Personal. If you’ve...
Read MoreGrandma’s After School
The best news today was that Sue would be able to come home. But, things being as they are with hospital time, it would end up being later on in the day. So, I got myself into efficiency mode, and did what needed doing. Mary had risen super early and left, but surprised me by coming back and bringing me a homemade smoothie for breakfast! So nice of her. Brandon brought me some clothes and a toothbrush and such, so I was able to feel more or less human. My dad’s best friend Don...
Read MoreGoing to Grandma’s
I’ve been spending a fair bit of time at Sue’s lately, since my dad is home receiving Hospice care. I slept at home last night and got a shower this morning before we all headed over. Kendall made me smile this morning, wearing her hat and showing me some twirls, saying “that’s how ballerinas do!” So cute. We picked up a rotisserie chicken and Sue had made a big pan of macaroni and cheese, but, we ended up not being able to eat together. When we arrived, Sue...
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