He is still dead

I wake up every morning this week and dammit, my Daddy is still dead. He will still be dead next week, too, I realize. It's sinking in. I don't like it.

I'm sleeping but not getting much rest. It's 9:15 and I am more tired than I was before I went to bed last night. Got to sleep maybe 12:30 and woke up in the predawn sometime. There isn't a clock in the bedroom. I've showered, dressed, eaten, and am about to get my third cup o' java.

Oh, look, now it's 12:08 on a Thursday afternoon. I keep getting pulled away from what I'm doing. My project yesterday was to write Daddy's obituary. Took all fucking day to write what should have been finished in half an hour because other things interrupted. He had his own obituary written out already so I just tweaked it a tiny bit, cleaned it up, edited for spelling and clarity. I submitted it by email to the local paper this morning. They want $198 to print it, or $261 to include the addresses for the contribution request. My brother Jim says there's an account for that, but the step-mom isn't here right now with that info. The deadline to have it printed in tomorrow's paper is 2:00. Hope this works.

Here's the obituary:

(Redacted) “Tom” (Redacted), Jr., 78, of Gainesville died on March 25, 2013. He was born in Ocala, FL on November 6, 1934. He is survived by his loving wife (Redacted), brother (Redacted), children Doris (Redacted) ("Superman"), Mike my brother, Jim my brother (Jim's wife), step-children (Redacted) (his wife), (Redacted) (his wife), Redacted (his wife), (Redacted) (his husband), (Redacted) (his SO); nine grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and four great granddaughters.

            Tom graduated with a B.S. in Education from FSU and a Masters in Counselor Education from UF with additional graduate studies at UF. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He taught in the Florida public high schools and for 25 years taught and counseled at Santa Fe College.

            Tom was a complete outdoorsman. He was a passionate fresh and salt water fisherman and enjoyed hiking and mountaineering in the Appalachians, the Sierras, and the Rockies of Colorado and Canada. Additional interests included worldwide travel, conservation, free speech and justice causes, physical and earth sciences, biology, politics, and economics. Tom was active in Al-Anon and met with many friends from Santa Fe College and Ocala High School.

            In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions to any of the following:

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research  www.michaeljfox.org

            Grand Central Station

            P.O. Box 4777

            New York, NY 10163-4777

National Parkinson Foundation http://www.parkinson.org/

Gift Processing Center
PO Box 5018  

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018

ACORN Clinic for Rural Healthcare http://www.acornclinic.org/

            23320 N. State Rd. 235

            Brooker, FL 32622

Jeff Block Memorial Scholarship http://www.sfcollege.edu/development/index.php?section=info/JeffBlockMemorial

            Santa Fe College Office for Development

            3000 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

There are a lot of people named (Redacted) in my extended family. Reunions are confusing. 

OK, moving along.... Do you notice that I'm the only girl up there? My two brothers are listed, then the sons of his current wife (or widow, in this case) then the sons of his second wife. He was close to his ex-step-sons. Interesting about ex-step-son second from last. That boy had a tough transition from teen to adult and did some things that severely damaged their relationship. Approximately ten years later, though, he came out as gay and Daddy thought that was wonderful. Said it's the first honest thing the fella had done in years, or maybe forever. He went to Vancouver for the wedding of ex-step-son and his husband when they legally because it's Canada! tied the knot. 

There were some other things I have been thinking about, and when they come to mind I think "I need to blog about that" but of course now I forget what they are. I hope to get back here soon to spew forth my thoughts. It gets messy, but I'm like that anyway. 

Superman and I found some ChocoVine chocolate wine in the Fresh Market store yesterday! We had that for the first time last weekend in Delaware and I fell in love with it. I was so excited to find it here! We killed the first bottle last night (OK, mainly I killed it. My step-mom helped.) and the second bottle has been opened. We may get another bottle or two to take home with us. 

I am so blessed with such great supportive friends who have known me only through this blog. Last weekend's Bloggerpalooza was incredible, and I feel so much love and support from the fine men and woman I was fortunate to meet. Hugs are the greatest! I am thankful for all the supportive messages I've received since learning of my Daddy's death, from everyone here. (Catrina! I had no idea you lurked here! I see you at Dirk's place all the time.) 

I have taken care of the obituary business, the newspaper got their money and it will run in tomorrow's paper. It is now time for a nap.