2:48 PM -

Back from the funeral home. We talked to the people there about how Dad's funeral will go, and I got to see what kind of casket he will have. We also saw where he will be buried.

His wake will be on Monday afternoon from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, and then the following morning we will have the funeral.

OokamiAzura - Your story really touched my heart. I don't know what to say other than thank you, it is a beautiful writing.

Pega - I'm sorry, I saw that but I didn't really consider it was for me. You do too much for me, and come Monday it will be something to look forward to before I have the wake in the afternoon. Thank you.

Chickenwhite - I think I'm going to leave Quad there for the day, if that's okay with everyone. If I'm there, I'll have him sit up and greet everyone. You guys can come and go as you need, just being there a moment means a lot to me.

Sarie - I won't lie, I fell apart pretty badly last night, but I think the road was just really tough for us this past year and we've had so much hardship that I think we all had to endure until this point. There were many times where I felt like things would never let up, but being able to talk to you guys as well as have Quad run around and be goofy really helped me endure this year.

Bylah - No, I totally understand where you are coming from, and I thank you for the words. I didn't want to say it, but we all really wanted Dad to go as soon as he was ready. He really suffered these past few days. I think we're all kind of happy for him that it was his time because he had dealt with so much pain the past few years. It will be hard to get used to the world without him, but I think things will be better knowing that he isn't suffering anymore.

Swifttail - Thanks, sadhugs are good right now.

<3

Dooooublepost but I will do my best to hug you from afar. <333 I hope your family's going to be alright.

Im sorry for your lose..
I saw this long time ago.. i just dind't knew how to resopnt.. also you don't really know me.. and me either.. but as you asked us to help you.. to pray.. i did.. but sadly ,it didn't help ,atleast he's in a better place ,he stopped suffering ,and god looking after him.. I'll sit a while with all ,im so sorry for your lose.

I'll keep Fled in today <3

I'm so sorry, Quad. I'll still be praying for you and your family, I know you all must be hurting from this loss.<3 I'll try to have my deer in as often as I can today.

p.s. I apologize for my deer leaving abruptly earlier, my internet crashed... If I ever leave without saying goodbye it means something crashed.<3

This will be the last thing I post here for today:

My brother and sis-in-law found an old poem among Dad's things. He was a post office letter carrier for 48 and a half years, so finding this poem was really surprising.

A Letter Carrier knocked at the Heavenly gate
His face was scarred and old.
He stood before the weigher of his fate
For admission to the fold.
“What have you done.” St. Peter said,
“To gain admission here?”
“I’ve been a Letter Carrier Sir,” he said
“For many and many a year.”
The pearly gate swung wide open,
St. Peter touched the bell--“Come in and choose your harp,” he said
“You’ve had your share of hell.”

And a few more links of things for Dad:

Prayer for the Dying (when Dad was still breathing on Friday night)
The Grey Rhino (story inspired by his passing)
Quad's Candid Camera - 7/24/10 (has all of the screenshots I took at the memorial today)

I'm not sure what will go on tomorrow. I plan to go to church with one of my brothers, and after that I don't know, but maybe tomorrow morning if you guys would like me to, I'll put Quad back at the memorial (or if there is somewhere else you'd prefer him to sit, please let me know). Thank you all once again for everything you have done. It was touching to both myself as well as my family members to see all of you sitting with Quad at the memorial.

Oh Quad...

Last night's updates had me really worried for you and your family and I was so sad to see that your father had passed away. I'm so sorry.
Take comfort in knowing that your father is at peace and free of cancer and pain and will always be there for you, whenever you need him. Also know that everyone here at the community loves and supports you. c:> *gives out endless hugs and nuzzles*

D: aw Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

I'm sorry I'm not good when it comes to things like this, but I just want to let you know that we're all here for you to help you in this time.

7/25/10 -

Quad's going to sit on Twin Gods' Hill today. You don't have to come and sit with him if you have other things you'd like to do, but I was going to let him be in the Forest for anyone who needed him.

I'll be at church in about an hour so I won't be online for most of the morning.

7/25/10 -

Has been a slow day. I went to church and got the information about which readings we will be doing for Dad's funeral. I'm reading the first reading and the responsorial psalm.

My brother's girlfriend and her parents are here now, and we had some of my family on my Dad's side just come about an hour ago.

Sigh...it's been one hell of a day. My aunt's car battery died so I had to take her to get a new one and dropped her off at my grandparent's house, and just now we just found out that my bro's girlfriend's back windshield is shattered. They think that it was just the heat down here, but it's frustrating any way.

Mom wants me to sleep with her tonight, on Dad's side of the bed.

I'm a tiny bit nervous, because that's where he died, you know? But she said it will help her get to sleep, and I'll have a more comfortable bed to sleep on rather than my brother's couch-bed.

7/26/10 -

I got the OK to post this up here:

Dad's Obituary

Today we're mostly taking care of odds and ends now (like my bro's girlfriend's car window getting fixed) and then this afternoon is Dad's wake. I didn't have any problems sleeping in Dad's spot last night other than I think I startled Mom once or twice.

I just found out that at the motel that my bro's girlfriend and her parents were going to stay at was a police shootout with a fugitive who got killed or something.

This city is insane...

Dad's wake went pretty well, I sadly did not know everyone there because Dad made a lot of friends over the years. Everyone from neighbors, fellow Post Office workers, people from his routes, Mom's friends, and relatives came to the wake. I had a few friends from school and work stop by to show their respects, too.

My store manager offered to make us some trays after the funeral and burial, and at first I didn't know what to say because Mom doesn't really like for people to cook for us, but I asked her and she said it was alright, so tomorrow after the burial I'm going to stop by work and pick up whatever they give us.

It was hard seeing Dad in his casket. He actually picked out the casket about a week before he got too sick. There was a flag on his tan-colored casket and he had a rosary in his hand. Someone from the VFW (Veterens of Foreign Wars) came and put a medal on Dad's chest for the Air Force. We each put things in his coat pocket - I gave him one of my uncut garnets from a school field trip, and I know a few other things put in were medals and coins.

I don't really know how to explain him there. You know, to me he looked like he was just sleeping there. I think I've convinced myself that everything will be back to normal the next day - I'll wake up and Dad will be up pulling laundry out of the washer or putting up dishes...or watching "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" and asking me if I know an answer on there. I think it hasn't fully sunk in that he is really gone, and tomorrow I think it will when we watch his casket be buried.

Sorry...

We're here, Quad.

7/28/10 -

Alright guys, this will be my last update on here until maybe I go visit Dad's grave.

The mass went really well - my middle brother and I did the bible readings, intentions, and responsorial psalm, and later my oldest brother had a speech about Dad that was really good. Didn't have any problems there, and so we went to the cemetery to bury Dad. Our pastor did a nice speech about him and then we had the American Legion give a good speech about how Dad protected our country in the Air Force. We have a 21 gun salute followed by TAPS. I think all of us cried a little when TAPS was playing.

Mom was given the flag as well as the emptied shells from the 21 gun salute, and afterward we all put a single rose on Dad's casket. My brothers, mom, sister-in-law, and I put yellow roses, and everyone else put red roses.

The story about that was that Dad broke his nose and was in the hospital, and Mom bought him a lone rose. Well she went to the hospital and saw that other people had given him huge bouquets, and when she gave Dad the one rose, he said, "You know it only takes one."

So after the burial we went home and changed clothes, then went to my grandparents house for lunch. Well my job had sent us a huge deli meat and cheese platter that was really good, and my grandparents got us a chicken tender tray too.

Later on we found out that they didn't pick up a fruit tray that my work had given us too, so my aunt ran by there and got it. It was one of our large trays that serve 25-30 people. We divided it among people, sent some to friends, and so on.

So today we're going to go to LuLu's Cantina near Gulf Shores, AL, which was one of Dad's favorite places to eat.

Thank you all once again for everything you did for me and my family during this time. I was trying to think of a way to thank this community, so when I get my finances in order I'll make a $50 donation to Project Greenleaf/Tale of Tales for you guys. You don't know how much you all mean to me and I think I would have gone insane if I wasn't able to write down everything that had happened during this past month.

I forgot to mention that I'm planning on starting a scholarship in Dad's name when I'm making lots of money with my occupation. I plan for it to be $1,000 or so and will be for children of Post Office workers.

7/29/10 -

Went to Dad's grave today and fed some geese

I know I am a year late, but...

I am terribly sorry for your dad. He will rest in peace. I honor him because you said he was great. And my prayers are with him and your family.