Whew.

[katallison]

So, my dad's funeral is over, and it all went very well. In particular, my brother, whom I was ready to throttle Friday night for his non-phone-answering non-arrangements-clarifying ways, delivered a eulogy that just knocked the ball out of the park. He was *splendid.* And some of my dad's old professional colleagues were able to show up, to my great joy, and said some funny and loving and intelligent things. The only downside was ... well, let me just say that if you're ever engaging a singer to perform at some event, be sure to verify in advance that he is actually able to carry a tune, and perhaps also play chords upon the guitar that correspond more or less harmonically to the tune he is supposed to be carrying. (Right, you already know that, on account of you're smarter than me.) Anyway, it was a fine ceremony, overall, and I think my dad would have been pleased.

And I got my grant proposals done and in, and I'm now sitting here, contemplating rather dazedly the prospect of an evening in which there is nothing I have to do. And even more, no niggling painful guilt about how if you don't have other things you have to do, you really should go visit your dad or your stepmother. No, my calendar and my conscience are entirely, utterly clear, for the first time in what feels like forever. Mr. P. and I are not doing the V-Day thing tonight, but have deferred until later in the week, when the crowds will have dwindled and the restaurant prices will be back to normal and I'll have gotten some sleep.

I went out after work and bought myself a stack of Nero Wolfe mysteries, and a bottle of champagne, and I plan to have a quiet solitary evening on the couch, sipping and reading and having a little hot chicken soup. The bronchitis is much better (huge thanks to lapillus, who brought over on Saturday a bottle of Mucinex tabs, which is vilely named but does a fantastic job of de-gunking the lungs). I'm looking forward to Escapade, and I'm looking back, from time to time, at the past few weeks, and I'm thinking a bit about some writing I want to get re-immersed in. But mostly I'm just going to be quiet and enjoy my evening.

Comments

[ardent-muses.livejournal.com]

I don't have anything particularly intelligent or handy to say (and of course I'm not going to let that stop me *G*), but I'm *really* glad it went well. I've been thinking of you. And I'm glad you arranged a nice, guiltless, relaxing night for yourself. I hope this is the start of a peaceful time for you. *hugs*

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on getting through it all with aplomb, and I hope your relaxing evening is a total joy. May the bubbles go to your head. (:

[brynwulf]

I'm glad you're treating yourself to a bit of bubbly and mystery. pamper away! Quiet is SUCH a good thing sometimes. See you soon!

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the most difficult period beings when the busy-ness stops, but you've had a terribly long haul in which to come to terms with your dad's death. I hope you can rest and relax, and enjoy Escapade to the fullest.

[inapickle.livejournal.com]

if you're ever engaging a singer to perform at some event, be sure to verify in advance that he is actually able to carry a tune

At my dad's memorial service, the priest made us all sing "Amazing Grace," to the accompaniment of an instrumental arrangement he had on cassette. But whoever did the arrangement was not the same person who put together the lyrics the priest distributed; there were about two more verses of lyric than there were of music. And the tape launched into some rollicking Life is Better When You Eat Butter-y guitar track while we were still singing "Amazing Grace."

I don't think I've commented on any of your entries about your dad. It's not because I don't care; I just don't have anything useful to say. Just that I'm sorry for your loss, and I've been thinking about you.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Archie's good company when you're down.

[byob-kenobi.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your Champagne and your downtime. You more than deserve it!

[twistedchick]

I'm very glad things went well, even if the musician wasn't as tuneful as desired. Please, do give yourself time and space to just relax into; you've been through a long and difficult time, and it will be much easier for you later on if you go easier on yourself now. (Been there, wore out the shirt.)

::hugs, tea, hot bubble baths, lunch at that nice restaurant...::

[umbo.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad everything (except the singing) went so well. And I'm glad you're taking some time for yourself, because you definitely both need and deserve it!

*hugs*

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear you've gotten through these past few days so well. Congratulations on the funeral arranging, the grantwriting, and the generally staying mostly sane. Enjoy your evening; you deserve every bubble of that bubbly.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I'm so relieved for you, darlin, and I hope you wring every last bit of enjoyment and relaxation out of the evening. {{{hugs}}}

[qe2.livejournal.com]

Welcome home, m'dear. Congratulations on everything you managed to get done - both practically and personally - and on getting through it all. You deserve kudos and soup and Archie/Nero snark and the best delayed Val's Day ever.

[vagabondage.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's over, and you finally have some precious time, guilt free, all to yourself. Revel in it. I really wish I could go to Escapade, if for no other reason than to shower you with hugs and whiskey.

[shrift.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted that you're coming to Escapade, and I'm *very* glad that you're kicking back sans guilt tonight. Enjoy it, feel better, and I look forward to seeing you weekend after next.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

So, my dad's funeral is over, and it all went very well.

Good, I'm glad. Enjoy your evening.

[tinyfroglet.livejournal.com]

How wonderful that you're giving yourself this time to recover and rest. Guilt-free living is the only way to go. I hope it all went well.

[kittygoslingp.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad that your father's funeral went well and that now you're getting some time to yourself.

I hope, as the months go by and you have sad days and moments, that being able to look back and think that your father would have been pleased with his funeral, that your family binds together and supports its members in hard times and that a whole bunch of people, who've never even met you in real life, were thinking of you, will bolster you when you feel down.