Hi Guys, I spent last Wednesday to Monday in Lizard Land because my Papa (who lived there) passed away on Tuesday last. It was long expected -- not a shock -- as he was NINETY-FIVE and had been going rapidly down hill for the last few months. He had been in hospital in mid July for two weeks and then sent home with Hospice care. He was on oxygen and some mild pain meds and went to his Dr. on Friday (04 Aug.) then my DD took the SMDGD to visit on Saturday. Papa told her the Dr. had said he was doing much better and might make it to Christmas! Next day I get a call from Bet (his wife) telling me that Papa had asked to be taken to a care facility!! I spoke with the Hospice Nurse who was there and she said they had started him on a very low dose of morphine and he was doing OK physically. Mentally he was still better than OK for an old fart who was 95 :-). Betsy (my DSis) and I had planned to go visit -- she would be there from the 8th to the 12th and then I would be there 16th through 22nd (I had just been there in late June). We didn't want to both be there at the same time as it would be too tiring for him. Betsy phoned the care facility on Monday and spoke with Papa's nurse who said he had a great night on Sunday and had been up and around -- walking to the bathroom, etc. earlier that morning. He had taken his meds and had eaten a little food and seemed to be in good spirits, all things considered. She arrived in Phoenix about 11:00 AM, picked up Bet (Papa's wife) and they went to visit Papa, arriving about 1:30 PM. Papa was suddenly NOT doing well but he did know that she and Bet were there with him. She had DD phone and tell me this so I changed all of my reservations, etc. so I could go to PHX ASAP. When I phoned Betsy at the care facility at about 3:00 PM, she was in tears and said Papa had just that minute passed away! We had all thought he would last a few weeks, not just a few days. Papa always said that once he ended up "in one of
*those* places" he would die as soon as he could manage it but none of us expected him to go so quickly. I'm just happy that Papa wasn't alone when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We had a very nice Memorial Service for him on Saturday and then a small reception at a friend's home afterwards. I am executor so I spent all of my time on the phone or meeting with people, going to banks, etc. while Betsy and my DH packed up all of Papa's stuff, etc. Anyway, I'm back home and tired as all get out. I'm not really upset. I wasn't very close to Papa (he was a very cold, selfish person) so I am not devastated, just a bit sad that my father is gone. I suppose I will be sad come the holidays because the only family I have left (my "growing up" family) is Betsy (DSis) and she's a Jehovah's Witness so doesn't celebrate. This makes me VERY glad to have DH, DD, DSonIL and the SMDGD and all of my wonderful friends. CiaoMeow >^;;^<PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at