In Memorium

On Thursday, March 21 2013 my father passed away.  He had emphysema (COPD).  Although he had been in the hospital for several weeks, it was a shock to us.  He had been doing better and getting stronger.  He was on the path to home.  And then he got pneumonia and there was not a thing to be done for him.  The doctors gave us the news Wednesday afternoon.  And about 24 hours later he took his last breath.  We were not prepared to say goodbye, but somehow we did.   

Much of our family was with him when he died, and we are grateful for that.  As he took his last breaths, it felt as though I went out of myself.  As strange as this may sound, the sight of my family gathered around him - every hand touching him and the person next to them, murmuring words of love to him - it was beautiful.  I was overwhelmed with love for my family. 

My sister said, during his funeral, that the greatest gift he gave us was this incredible family we have.  I have to agree with her.  In our immediate family, we number just over 20.  His wife of 34 years, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 4 children-in-law and 1 grandson-in-law. 

We spent the next days together as a family, really only separating to go to sleep. Although, sleep didn't really come easily.  It turns out we would just go to our homes and, alone,  look at more pictures and think of times past.   A few of the days,  our spouses were people we passed in the night.  They were so wonderful and supportive, knowing intuitively that we needed to be with each other. and taking care of hearth and home so we could sit together and reminisce and look at thousands of pictures, and cry and laugh. 

On Wednesday, we officially memorialized him with family and friends at his funeral.  We all struggled with exactly how we could put into words just who he was and what he meant to us.  We used photos to display decades of memories, and that helped.  We each wrote and said words that helped.  But the impossible task of bringing it all home for people who were not his child - who he was - still eludes me.  In the few days since his funeral, I'm still eulogizing as I don't quite feel I found the depth of words to describe him. 

And finally today, I realize that I might never succeed in saying or writing what is so plainly in my heart. 

Maybe it's as simple as his smile.  The brilliance, the love, the dedication, the humour, the tenderness, the tenacity, the spirit, the beauty of his heart.  All in his smile.  What do you think?

Peace & Love,

Larry's Daughter

The Art of . . . weather forecasting

A lot of people like snow.  I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.  ~Carl Reiner

Well we survived "Snow-vereaction" 2013, and hope you did as well.  

I was so confused by the reports coming through at around 11:00 in the morning yesterday, with the weatherman reporting 10 inches of fallen snow on the ground in my little spot in the woods - and calling for 10 more.   At first I figured I didn't hear him right (because of course, I didn't have my glasses on).  But I went and got my glasses and put them on and he was still saying I had almost a foot of snow on the ground at my house.  

But I didn't have anywhere near 10 inches.  Even when I scooped a bunch of it up and piled it . . . not 10 inches. Maybe 4 inches.  And it was sloppy wet.   I even looked yonder, into the neighbors field, and saw a kitty cat scampering.  It didn't disappear and re-appear with each step, so I'm guessing he didn't have 10 inches either.  

So, I think think it was one of my fellow rural-ista's pulling a fast one on Topper and was just sitting back laughing, knowing he would report the lie as truth.    Because now we had a weather man that not only botched the forecast, but the actual reporting on the results of the forecast.  Haha.  Good one!

Around 2pm, when the rain had stopped and the sun was out, and it was warm and not windy at all, The Beav and I laced up our boots to brave the dirt roads and see what the rest of the world looked like.  Maybe it was an anomaly and everyone in Western Loudoun had more than a foot of snow except us (and of course our yonder neighbor).  We had to go see, and we did. 

Imagine our surprise when we pulled out from our slushy-sloppy dirt drive way onto our single lane dirt road  to town and it was covered in . . . nothing.  And then when we approached the pavement a mile or two later and it was covered in . . . nothing.  And we got into town and the roads were . . . clear.  Damp, but clear.  

So from now on, I'll make my own forecast.  When Topper tells me to stay home where its safe, I may not heed his advice.  I may chill for a while, and then look out my own window and see what my brain thinks.  As for yesterday, our little family was set for a foot of snow and more.  We proactively decided our business would be closed for the day  due to inclement weather.  That was dumb.  Next time someone says a foot of snow is coming to my door, the sign at EarthWorks will read "in the event that this forecast is accurate, we may not be here.  So call in advance".  

But on the bright side, I made a kickin pot of chicken soup and a white cake with buttercream frosting that was devoured by my boyz.  Along with a dozen eggs and a dozen donuts.  But no yogurt or salad.  In our family, when a big snowstorm comes along we put on the feed-bag in a big way!

PL&BB - 

Pen