For dia de los muertos, and the month of thanksgiving, I am remembering those who have gone on before. My great-grandmother Rill who taught me Psalm 117 when I was two years old and let me dip crackers in my hot tea at the Chinese restaurant. My grandma Helen who had a basement full of…

This is for my children, Micah and Elijah. First, and you both know this, if any of my organs are usable, have them take my organs. Second, if they can’t take my organs, see if you can donate my body. Science Care will/may take my body. If they do, they will provide the cremation for…

There were 100+ more. These are just the ones that either talked about my folks or from folks who knew them. October 1 Sherry: I’m so thankful you’ve had these past months with him nearby. I’m sorry your family is having to go through this time. I love you. Susan: I bless your grieving heart,…

Al asked me to present to students on a book that had made an impact on my life and a difficulty I was facing. Obviously, my dad’s death would be the main difficulty/challenge recently. I wrote stuff down so I could stay within the time limit and not cry. A recent challenge is that I…

Ron’s eulogy for my folks. Today we buried my wife’s parents in Flagstaff Arizona. These are the words I would like to have said at the service, but I can’t even think them without crying. There is no way I could have said them. My favorite memories of Cleo and Jennifer show their humor. Cleo…

Three weeks ago today a radiologist said to my father, “You should get this checked out. It might be lymphoma.” Two weeks and two days ago I got a call that said to come now if I wanted to see Dad before he died. It was his 75th birthday. Three days ago I was with…

Dad went home to hospice on October 8, nine days after being admitted to the hospital. Uncle Jimmy got to see him before he left. Monday, October 12 Dad is far more talkative today. When Steph was out sleeping, I just laid next to him and talked about whatever came to mind. Dad said, “Will…

Dad is going on hospice Friday (ASAP for MD Anderson). He has non-remittable bone cancer, in addition to the lymphoma, and they think he has a third kind. Some other stick test being done for that, but will take a week to come back. Why? Because inquiring minds want to know, apparently. Please pray for…

Because worrying about my dad isn’t enough… My brother was bitten by a raccoon and has now been waiting four hours at the ER for a rabies shot. Please pray they get him one soon. The CDC says he should have a shot “right away.” Update: After 5 hours, he got the shot. Thank you,…

My dad has B cell diffused Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Supposedly usually curable, but he also has double pneumonia, he has at least 3 of the contra-indicators, and his has been diagnosed (but not by MDAnderson yet) as high grade, which can mean it has spread. They checked his heart yesterday. No news on that. His kidneys…

My dad is in the hospital and going home on hospice today. Please pray for him to not be in pain. Update: Change in plans. Doctor last night said, “No hope.” (Okay, literally it was, “He won’t live long enough to go home.”) Second doctor says, “Maybe we can cure him.” Now we’re sitting around…

I am apparently counting on having an ice day tomorrow, as I put the cake pops in the fridge and haven’t graded the papers I need to grade before tomorrow morning. Instead I’ve been surfing the net and learning that my dad’s family is descended from Swiss-Germans (or at least we both share common ancestors)…

We’re heading to Europe for three months. We’ll live and work in the UK (remotely). It’s an adventure! Last time I went to Europe, I went to my folks’ house to say good-bye to my father, in case he had a stroke and died before I came home two weeks later. I fussed at mom…