Kevin's Watch

Sorry about your father, Phantasm Sweetie.

I'm feeling kinda smug. A couple of years ago, on the way to a concert at Wolf Trap, I had to climb a fairly steep hill out of the parking lot with a friend. By the time we got halfway to the top, I was practically wheezing.

Today, the same friend and I went to Waterford Fair. Waterford is a little teeny town that's been named a historic landmark for its 18th century architecture. Every year in the fall they have a festival that stretches throughout the whole town. House tours, craft booths, food and more food -- you get the idea. Anyhow, there's a fairly steep hill from the high road into town, down to where a lot of the craft stuff and other action is. On the way out, we had to climb that hill. This time, it was my friend who was out of breath at the top.

Oh, and we had a good time, too.

Yesterday afternoon, Magickmaker caught a ride to DC with a group from her college. I met up with her at the American Indian museum; then we walked down to the Smithsonian International Gallery (which is *below* the plaza next to the Freer -- who knew?) and saw an exhibit about Jim Henson. They had the original Kermit puppet, Bert and Ernie (Ernie had his rubber ducky!), Rolph, and some of the props from "The Dark Crystal". Then we took the Metro to Pentagon City Mall for dinner, and then rode back into town so Magickmaker could attend a performance of the Capitol Steps with her group from school. So I walked all over the Mall yesterday and walked all over Waterford today....

I feel good. Had a good day today with Lucimay and the girls. Red shoes... the angels wanna wear my red shoes....

I thought they wanted to wear Elvis Costello's red shoes......

i am not so good today. at six a.m. this morning i got a call from my stepmother. my father has died.

i will be going to kentucky tomorrow.

My condolences, Luci.

I'm really sorry to hear that, Luci.

My condolences to you and yours, Lucimay.

Sweetie, I am so sorry! As soon as I finish with my very high maintenence customer I'll call you. She's standing here in my office crying about having absolutely no money and she's tooling around in a 40 thousand dollar vehicle that gets fourteen miles to a gallon in the city. What the hell is wrong with people???????

My thoughts are with you, Luci.

My condolences Cyndi.
I will pray for you and your father.

Lucimay wrote:i am not so good today. at six a.m. this morning i got a call from my stepmother. my father has died.

i will be going to kentucky tomorrow.

So sorry Hugs and thoughts of support

i thank you all for your condolences.

my sig has been haunting me all day.

i come here for the human contact and i want to thank you all for that, everyone.

i'm sure bill is having a chuckle with Lucy May right now over the fact that my second thought was "i have no funeral shoes. i'm gonna look like hell at my own father's funeral."

i'll probably have to come here again before this week is over. there's a reason i haven't been home in 7 years. i'm just gonna thank you all again in advance for what you may have to listen to me rail about before its all done.

i think the name of this poem is going to be "Bill Goes to Ground"!

anyway, i was struck by this the first time i read it and now, it comes naturally to my mind;


Requiem for the New Year
mary karr


On this first dark day of the year
my daddy was born lo
these eighty-six years ago who now
has not drawn breath or held
bodily mass for some ten years and still
I have not got used to it.
My mind can still form to that chair him
whom no chair holds.
Each year on this night on the brink
of new circumference I stand and gaze
towards him, while roads careen with drunks,
and my dad who drank himself
away cannot be found. Daddy, I'm halfway
to death myself. The millenium
hurtles towards me, and the boy I bore
who bears your fire in his limbs
follows in my wake. Why can you not be
reborn all tall to me? If I raise my arms
here in the blind dark, why can you not
reach down now to hoist me up?
This heavy carcass I derive from yours is
tutelage of love, and yet each year
though older another notch I still cannot stand
to reach you, or to emigrate
from the monolithic shadow you left.

anyway...
thanks for being here all of you.
thanks.

Dam Luci! ^what that guy (Creator, since we both posted at the same time) said^ from both Tam and I.

Hugs and loving thoughts, Luci.

Funeral shoes: Before I flew to Chicago in March, I thought to pack a black t-shirt and black pants, y'know, just in case. Then when Mom did die, I realized that I hadn't brought a sweater or blazer or anything -- just the long-sleeved t-shirt and pants -- and I was going to end up looking far too casual at my mother's funeral. Ah well. I think I was the only one who noticed. Or cared.

Hang in there, sweetie.

aliantha wrote:Hugs and loving thoughts, Luci.

Funeral shoes: Before I flew to Chicago in March, I thought to pack a black t-shirt and black pants, y'know, just in case. Then when Mom did die, I realized that I hadn't brought a sweater or blazer or anything -- just the long-sleeved t-shirt and pants -- and I was going to end up looking far too casual at my mother's funeral. Ah well. I think I was the only one who noticed. Or cared.

Hang in there, sweetie.

oh good.

thanks. that's what i packed too!! i'll wear my shades the whole time.
ooh, wait...its october. shit, i'll need a black turtleneck.

Sorry for your loss, Luci. I don't know what I'd do without my dad.

Just bring a sweater.

Edit to clarify: This post is in response to Luci's response to me, above dAN's post. It is *not* advice to dAN re his post. Thank you.

LuciMay, I am so sorry to hear about your father's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Luci - So sorry... call me any time if you need/want to talk.