Well, I'm sure you're all wanting to hear the rest of the story. Sadly, it didn't have a happy ending. Per Dad's written directive and express wishes, he was removed from life support on Sunday morning and he passed away peacefully soon afterwards. He never totally regained consciousness, but we think he was aware that his son and daughter and grandson were there.


So, the boys and I flew out there on Monday to help prepare for the viewing and funeral. Like all funerals, it had it's good times and it's sad times. We laughed a lot, remembering things about his life and jokes he'd played on people, and we spent a lot of sad time, realizing how much he will be missed and how many people will miss him. They had lived in the same house for 44 years, so the neighbors were more family than neighbors. Most of them came over after the service and we had a good couple of hours reminiscing with them.


Here's a great picture of Mom and Dad from better days when they were both healthy and happy. This was his retirement party when he retired from the railroad police. I used it for the front of the funeral programs I made up. I thought it was fitting as our greatest hope is that they are happy and together again at last.


The business end of things is waiting to be taken care of. There are death certificates to get and papers to file, a house to be cleared out and sold, and all the usual hassles of death, but for now we have a breather. We are going to go out one last time during Easter vacation and do what needs to be done. Having already gone through this with my Mother's house, I'm not looking forward to it at all, but thankfully Dad wasn't a pack rat like she was, so it shouldn't be any harder than usual.


We did decide to go ahead with the cruise. At first, it seemed like a very strange idea, to go off and have a fancy vacation 48 hours after a funeral, but the more we think about it, it sounds wonderful to get away, have a change of scene, and think about something else for a change. Now the trick is to just get out of here. We came home last night to probably the worst snow storm we've had all year. They are actually delaying the start of school by two hours so they can dig out the school grounds. Since we didn't get home until 2:00 in the morning after our flight was delayed by several hours, that was good news because we could scoot Blake back off to bed. Since it's Valentine's Day, there was no way he would hear of missing school today. Wish I could go back to bed, but I've got a LOT to do to get ready for the cruise. We head for Miami at 4:00 tomorrow morning. I'm sure I'll have some happier stuff to post when I get back.



PS: If you put comments, they likely won't show up until I get a chance to approve them. I've got comment moderation turned on, but I won't have Internet access on the ship, unless I want to pay through the nose for it - not! So comment away and I'll catch them when I get home.