Easter, 2010
April 4, 2010
· 
Jen · 
2 Comments
Tags: dad · Posted in: Uncategorized
November 29, 2009
Today would have been my father’s 70th birthday. We always celebrated his birthday on Thanksgiving (his favorite holiday), adding an apple pie (his favorite, that he taught me to bake) to the pumpkin pies and adding an extra layer to the festivities. This year, the family spent Thanksgiving together quietly, peacefully, with a different layer [...]
November 29, 2009
· Jen · 5 Comments
Tags: birthday, dad · Posted in: family
The Feast of All Souls
In 1971 my mother and father and brother took a trip to England. My brother was seven years old at the time and it was the first really big vacation they’d ever taken together. Sometime before they left on that trip, someone advised them that when they took pictures, they should have them developed as [...]
November 2, 2009
· Jen · 4 Comments
Tags: dad, stories · Posted in: family
Not posted on September 20, or since.
It’s been a little over a month since I lost Dad. The world is different, I am different, I am struggling, I am succeeding. Not writing all this time has been strange, but with the move to the new apartment and the fact that work is getting busier, it was easy to set it aside. [...]
October 21, 2009
· Jen · No Comments
Tags: dad · Posted in: family
A legacy of laughter.
One night last week when I was visiting my Dad in the convalescent center where he is living out his last days, a young lady brought in his dinner on a tray. It looked about like usual – cafeteria-style tray, a small glass of water, a tiny carton of milk, utensils, a cup of Jello, [...]
September 13, 2009
· Jen · 3 Comments
Tags: cancer, dad, laughter, vocation · Posted in: faith, family
A moment of levity!
They do happen! If I, or anyone in my family, ever lost our sense of humor, it would be a loss as keenly felt as that of a limb. Yesterday I went to visit Dad after work, as per usual. When I arrived, he was holding…mattress ads. Yes, my father, laying in the hospital, dying [...]
September 2, 2009
· Jen · No Comments
Tags: cancer, dad, family, health · Posted in: Uncategorized
A time of burden.
My father’s illness has progressed at such a pace it can be hard to keep up. I certainly haven’t put all the latest details in here; they pile up faster than I can take time to record them. It’s okay, though. I would rather take the time to spend with my father, to share thoughtful [...]
August 25, 2009
· Jen · No Comments
Tags: cancer, dad, family · Posted in: family
A newsy update
Once again, in lieu of waiting for artful prose (or time to craft it), I’m going to post just some details, update-fashion. Last week’s trip to the oncologist confirmed our fears – Dad’s lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) is stage four, and has spread throughout his body, primarily into the bones. The plan set up last week [...]
August 20, 2009
· Jen · 3 Comments
Tags: cancer, dad, family · Posted in: Uncategorized
Which questions?
One of the things recommended to me from several sources has been, “Ask questions!” Tonight I spent some time writing down a list of questions to ask the oncologist tomorrow. My brother and I are going with my parents to the initial appointment, and the long process of learning about cancer and what the hell [...]
August 13, 2009
· Jen · 2 Comments
Tags: dad, health, questions · Posted in: family
