Saying Goodbye to B's Dad

And so it seems that I blog exactly like I journal - not very often. In my defense (can I defend myself, Your Honor, or is that a little too pathetic?) things have been extra crazy these last couple of weeks. I'm going to go in order of the size of event from all of my missed time.

One week ago today B's father passed away. We got the call between 2:45 and 3:00 last Sunday morning that he had gone. It isn't sudden. He actually has been bed ridden for a couple of years and has had health issues since B can remember. While we were living in Philadelphia he had a quadruple bypass surgery and we believe that he experienced a stroke around that same time - maybe even during the surgery, and he has been going downhill ever since then - usually at a pretty rapid clip. We were just visiting over Father's Day and we all had a wonderful "Goodbye" with him before we left. We spent Sunday through Wednesday this past week with B's family making preparations and had a wonderful funeral on Wednesday. B did the life sketch. He remembered his fathers desire to work and his kindness to others, his sense of humor, his cooking skills, and the favorite was a story of his father when he came outside, fresh from the shower, with just a pair of pants on and asked B if he could ride his bicycle over the jump B had just made. B let him, of course, and his dad made a wonderful show of it, ending with a very obvious grass stain on his bare belly. B's niece and nephew both spoke of their memories including the garden B's father had for so many years. The younger grandchildren, including all of ours, sang "Families Can Be Together Forever". The Air Force, where B's father served as a cook, came to the grave side service and did a wonderful tribute to a fellow service member. It was a fitting farewell, it is just never easy to let go. It's hardest for B's mom as she has spent the last several years of her life taking care of him nearly to the exclusion of ALL other things and now that he is gone I think she feels pretty empty. B's sisters live close though, and are expert at helping her which we seriously appreciate especially since we are far enough away that we aren't very useful.

On a happier note; B's knee surgery was a success. He went in on a Tuesday and was back at work that Thursday. He only had to hobble around on crutches for two or three days and can now walk nearly normally. The Friday after his surgery we took E in and had her cast removed. HOORAY FOR TAKING SHOWERS, BATHS AND TRIPS THROUGH THE SPRINKLER WITHOUT SARANWRAP ON YOUR ARM!!! As it turns out, it really is the little things in life that matter the most!

The house is still for sale and we are keeping the faith, although it is getting down to the wire on our time frame. Before we move we have a few things that seem to be going wrong just because "When it rains..." our microwave has stopped functioning - probably a lose wire $85 - give or take, the hot water in our master shower is mostly blocked - $78 and someone can come tell us what is "probably" wrong and how much it will take to fix it, and today one of our children was throwing rocks at the cement - I don't know why because I think we MAY have mentioned that we don't throw rocks - once or twice (an hour) - in their life time - $200 we happen to know from when a different child went golfing in our backyard a few months ago. "...It pours." Sigh.

In all fairness to our lives and against everything posted above, things are really great. We are so glad B's father is not suffering and that his mother has time now for herself if she can just learn how to take it, we are glad E's cast is gone and B's knee is great and we are generally healthy and relatively happy. We still have people looking at our house even in this uncertain market. Our children like to walk which saves us having to give all of our money to the Gas Bandit. And most importantly, we always have chocolate in the house.