Blizzard

Well, I am now with family and learning to say goodbye. We are focusing on the good times we all had with dad. The community outpouring has been stunning. However, due to blizzard conditions we will be unable to attend my father's viewing. The funeral is tomorrow.

I just wish to thank everyone who has helped in this time of my life. To my friends back at school and to my blog readers. Thank you.

My Father: 1948-2007

I love you, dad. Thank you for everything. I will see you again.

About to lose Dad

The word has reached me. Dad will be taken off his support. I wish these clothes, laid out by him for the next day will be worn; but I know they won't. I love you, Dad.

Every Advance Must be Paid For

My brother has news on our father. There seems to be noticeable improvement. He is still a coma but this good news is relieving after two days of no progress. Some things just tug at my heart however. In the mail today I received a letter from day sent out two days before the heart attack. I will open it with him when I see him again.

But God or Satan (or just random chance) demanded Catholicgauze pay for this sudden jump in dad's health. For the rest of the paragraph play Kansas' Dust in the Wind in your head to "hear" what I heard as I recall my day. I am driving past a winter wonderland on my route back to grad school. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed black things fly past the passenger-side. Before I can figure out what is going on I loose control going 55 miles per hour and spin madly into a snow-banked ditch. I needed to be pulled out and taken to a Wal Mart where two tires were purchased (one for the one that nearly killed me and one for the other which was about to go).

So that was Catholicgauze's day. No geography post for Saturday. I need rest.

Dad Update

Dad is in a comma. The neurologist gives a reasonable optimistic forecast but if there is a recovery it will be Tim Johnson-style, very slow. On the plus side he is beginning to breathe on his own.

Dad is in the comatose body though. He shows signs of relief when I rub his feet. He shows clear signs of discomfort as his body "jumps" when it coughs. He will tear up sometimes when he hears mom or me. Removing the tears from his face has to be the hardest thing I ever done.

Keep praying. Thank you for all your support.

Keep Praying

News is coming in very slowly. The news that does reach me is not good.

On Friday I got a letter from him. All it was a note which said "Try to enjoy the weekend," and it had $20 enclosed. I was actually looking forward to next weekend when dad and the rest of the family were coming to visit me. Hotel reservations were made and I was planning on doing a quick pickup before they arrived. Friday night Dad and Mom called. It ended with dad saying "we'll check up on you tomorrow." No call ever came.

This evening I was complaining to my brother about the bad week I had (I really gave people more crap then I received though) when the words appeared on the screen which turned my life upside down, "Dad had a heart attack."

Don't go Dad. I love you. Your my friend. I screwed up too many times but you were always there. I saved your letters to me. Letters to me here and when I was in DC. Most of them said "Have a good weekend" and were enclosed with money I spent too frivolously. Please don't leave me. We have to go back on the Oregon Trail together. We have to go to the minor league baseball games together, opening day is coming soon! You have to help me move the lamps which you bought me that I barely use. You are suppose to use the coffee machine you bought so next time you can get your morning fix when you visit me.

I'm sorry readers. But geography is going on the back burner for a short while.

God, please let him live.

Prayers Needed

My best friend, my father, just had a heart attack. He needs prayers. I don't know his condition yet. The physical distance between us, once only thought as a few hours drive away, now seems like an endless gap. I'm real scared. Please pray for my dad.