Tim's father passed away last week; on Sunday, March 14, 2010. He was 86 years old. We knew it was coming, had been expecting it anticipating it but when the call came in at 3:45 a.m. (or 4:45 a.m. if you had reset your clocks appropriately) we had mixed emotions. We were happy it wasn't a call that something had happened to one of our kids but we were so sad that Tim's dad was gone. He was a good man. We've lived away for almost 15 years so our visits were limited. At the end, Tim was able to get up to see him at least once a month. It was weird about two weeks ago we were getting phone calls and emails that Bill was really declining. We decided to go see him. Booked our flights, and the week we were leaving, Tim's last living uncle passed away. Bill had wanted to live longer than his brother! We had a great visit with Bill, he was in a good mood, he was alert, we played cards (yes, I even played cards and not too badly!), talked - he got to attend his brother's wake (almost a dry run for his own wake), we took him sausage and biscuits from Hardee's (?) to him on Monday right before we left. During the next week he began a final decline which ended on March 14.
We were able to get the kids, after some serious haggling with Delta, to the funeral. Tim and I left on Wednesday, flew to Minneapolis, picked up a car and drove to Winona. We spent the evening with our friends Kris and George, had a wonderful meal and wonderful conversation. We picked up Andy on Thursday morning and drove up to Minneapolis. Joe and Lesley arrived around 1ish, shared a rental car and drove out to the funeral home for the wake. Tim and I are unbelievably lucky in that we have some amazing friends who chose to come and pay their respects to Tim and his family. It was very touching. Mike conducted the funeral service and he did an excellent job. It had to be challenging for him but I can't imagine someone better than him for the job.
Being with the kids, all of us together, was a little bittersweet. My kids are amazing! They are intelligent, passionate, beautiful/handsome people. I enjoy their senses of humor, their ability to conduct a conversation and meet complete strangers. Their strength is so amazing! But watching their faces as they faced the death of their grandfather was sad. I don't know all of what they were thinking but I know they were somewhere deep in their heads about this loss. Lesley managed to put a copy of Madeleine in the casket with her grandfather (after we loosened his tie and Greg put in a deck of cards). Then Lesley had to go to the airport, Andy and Joe went together for a cigar, Tim took a nap and I read my book...
Joe is in Philadelphia - ended up getting in really late last night - for an interview with the Temple University School of Podiatry. He was in New York City last week for an interview with the New York College of Podiatry.
I'm leaving for New York on Thursday with my niece for her 10 year old birthday trip. I've got a little shopping to do before I get away.
And, then there are the Van Morrison tickets - May 7. Can't wait!
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