Unfinished Business

Zoey with her special human - April 4, 2010.

My Dad with Zoey on the beach, Autumn 2014.

Just before my father passed away, he asked me to do a few things for him. One of the things he felt most strongly about was taking Zoey, his German Shepard to the beach once the summer season was over, and letting her run in the surf. Zoey really, really enjoys doing this!

So on two warm Saturdays, I've taken her down to the white sandy beach of New Jersey and let her romp. She was so pleased!

Arf! Arf! She wants to bite the curl on the incoming waves. The piling with the flag is the sole remnant of a boardwalk that washed way in the 1940s.

Any dog whisperer will tell you she is smiling cheek to cheek!

"Come on Mom! Get wet with me! Surf's up!"

Saying Goodbye to Dad

On August 9th, around 2:30 AM, my father passed away in his sleep, comfortably and peacefully. The link is to my Dad's Obituary. I still find it very difficult to write or talk about this. I have so many memories of him that they swirl around in my head like a kaleidoscope. Everything I have, I owe to my father.

Here he is in Florida, holding up a nice size Snook. It took us a dozen fishing trips to catch one of these elusive fish. His smile says it all.

I've have been overwhelmed by the caring support of my friends and neighbors. I cannot begin to say how much I appreciate all of you. I received beautiful cards from Chicago Lady, my older brother's in-laws, my mom's niece that lives in Maine, Far Side, Soul Comfort, my dad's first cousin's wife, A Bench With a View, Alice Kay, and Lady Styx and her husband. So many texts and emails I can only hope to answer them all eventually; visits from neighbors, some bearing plates with food, and some marvelous flowers - including one from a client that sits on my office desk beside my keyboard.

On his last day with us, I wheeled my dad out to the porch where we watched the birds at the feeders. We had dozens of visits from Hummingbirds. At the other feeder were Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Tuffed Titmouse's, Sparrows, Blue Jays, Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Orioles, and even a Squirrel that the feeder spun off to the ground three times before he or she gave up. It was a calming time for both of us.

I still can't believe he is gone.

Where's My Human?

My father went back in the hospital a week or so ago, he kept falling down and hitting his head - he was mildly concussed and very confused - and in that state, messed up his medications - mistaking Percocet for high blood pressure medication (for starters). It was a very crazy week.

He is now in a Rehab Center - the staff are making sure he exercises, takes the right medications at the right time, and eats properly. He looked pretty good yesterday (I mentioned to my mom he looked a half dozen years younger). So we are encouraged as of now.

His dog, Zoey has been really lonesome. She misses every member of "her pack" when we aren't around. I qualify as a pack member!

I took my dad's dog over to the rehab center because he wanted to see her. Just outside the center's dining room is a small gazebo and it was nice and shaded.

While we were waiting for my dad to come out two old ladies stopped by in wheelchairs wanting to see the dog. So Zoey was happy enough to say hello and lick their hands softly. You should have seen their smiles.

My dad then came out in a wheelchair and we had a big reunion! My dad was very happy to see Zoey. It has been about two weeks. You should have seen the tail wagging and heard the gleeful wuff-wuffs! After my dad returned to his room two more patients came out in their wheelchairs just say hello and to pat her head. They were absolutely thrilled to see her.

Zoey waits for human to come home - he should be there tomorrow (Friday) noon Zoe!

Photos from January

I've been really busy and have been missing blogging mojo - I'd say more about these photos that were taken late December and early January but I've got to scoot... Hope to post more soon.

A cherry tree in bloom in January - a warms spell got it royally confused!

The aftermath of Super Storm Sanday (2012) linger on...

Santa waves from the porch in a house that was recently raised.

Beautiful Dolphin sculpture.

Another house being raised. This one is actually sitting in the street while they dig the new foundation.

Winter Beach - my favorite time down the shore.

My Dad's dog Zoey makes herself at home.

The place down the shore. I need to do some exterior painting.

The Morris Arboretum was brown and dull - It has exploded with Spring flowering now. I got to get there and take some photos of the blooming trees.

My older brother and his family spent a week in Myrtle Beach.

A South Carolina snowman.

The Myrtle Beach lighthouse.

While he was on the beach in South Carolina, I was on the beach in New Jersey.

New Jersey beach.

My family memories at the beach photo collage. Over 110 individual photos are mounted in the "room divider".