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February 24, 2006
I'm jealous, but in a good way!
Veronica's birthday was tuesday. She celebrated it with her dad's family, then, and we're celebrating it, tomorrow evening. It's going to be very difficult. I'm sure it will be, for years, but right now, especially, she needs something that just takes her breath away, and makes her the ultimate in happy (I had a few of those kinds of gifts, every once in awhile, too, I think it's normal).
I already had the outfit that she wanted, but I needed something else. I wasn't thinking big, especially not this big, before my dad's death, but when I started thinking about it again, at the beginning of the week, I pretty much knew what the other gift was going to be. It just had to be.
A 2 gig Ipod Nano
She had an ipod on her Christmas list, and it is again, on her birthday list, which is very small (one of the other things she asked for was "world peace" if that gives you an idea of what kind of sweetie she is). This is the big thing she really wants - and she is seriously into music, so.......I splurged. =)
I just got the battery all charged up, and downloaded 10 songs on it, for her, so there's something there, when she opens it. I'm listening to it right now, and oh.my.god. the sound on this thing is just AMAZING! I want one! I'm jealous, but hey, she'll have the distinct honor of being the only one in our family with one, probably for quite awhile.
I can't wait to give it to her, tomorrow!
Posted by Romy at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2006
Surreal
The last week and a half has been a total blur, and now everything seems completely surreal.
The family has all come, and gone, with the exception of my brother, Brian, who is leaving in a week (both my older brothers will be flying back and forth for quite awhile). RIght now we're taking care of mom, and cleaning out Dad's office. It, just like his garage, and his workshop, is a mess. Packrat to the nth degree.
Most of the time the reality is there, hovering over my head, but I just let it hang there. As far as sifting through my dad's stuff, I've already gotten past the fact that he's gone. It's weird. Brian has said that he feels like a little kid sneaking through his parents stuff, but I haven't felt that way. Most of what we've found is trash, or old, OLD receipts that need shredded, but mixed in with all of that stuff, we'll occasionally come across a gem. Usually a picture, but sometimes a momento of another sort, and we smile, or laugh, or just enjoy reliving a part of our lives, again. Brian found a Valentine's card, for my mom that had not been filled out, yet. He gave it to her, and she seemed to cherish that, more than anything else we'd shown her that we'd found. A card for her, that he should have had the opportunity to fill out, and give her, but wasn't able to, because he left two days too soon.
Except for the strength I've found to sort through his stuff, it still hasn't completely hit me yet. It comes and goes, in waves, but I'm a long way off from truly understanding, and accepting, the fact that he's gone.
Posted by Romy at 10:17 AM | Comments (1)
February 16, 2006
Always in my heart
Larry McKinley, 70
Larry McKinley, 70, died of natural causes Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006.
Born Oct. 8, 1935, in Grimes, Iowa, he lived in San Diego for 37 years. He was a design engineer for the Navy civil service for 36 years. He was a pilot, a scuba diver and a world traveler. He enjoyed canoeing and writing and telling stories in Old English. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1957.
Mr. McKinley was preceded in death by his father, Gerald McKinley; and son Steve McKinley.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, his mother, 3 sons, 1 daughter; 2 sisters and 4 grandchildren.
We all love you, and miss you, very much.
Posted by Romy at 10:15 AM | Comments (2)