Update on my out of state trip

I did make the drive to Ohio Friday; the roads and rest stops were quite empty and I felt safe. My hotel room is off in a quiet corner and I've requested and received minimal maid service and covered the remote with a plastic bag, among other precautions. 😊

My dad was unconscious by the time I got here and didn't know I was here. I decided to stay longer than my planned dash in-and-out, since most of my family kept a vigil around him and I wanted to be part of that time with them. We've been as vigilant as we can with masks and keeping our distances, but it's tricky when eating meals, weeping, talking, trying to give quick arm's-length hugs, etc.

Dad passed away very peacefully just before 11:00 tonight (Sunday.) I had just fallen asleep at my hotel when my sister called and I hustled back to the house to meet with the hospice nurse and funeral home men, and to comfort my mom.

Our upcoming week is complicated by a big winter storm (and end-of-term finals) that might delay my brother's wife and girls and my husband from getting to us, but tomorrow we'll meet with the funeral director and plan a graveside service for our family hopefully for the end of this week. So my planned "short stay" will be quite extended. We'll try to have a real celebration of Dad's life next summer when hopefully extended family and friends can gather safely again.

My dad battled brain cancer for six years. I'm grateful that he's at peace and that I was here to hold his hand. I get bits of covid panic here and there because of the proximity we've all been in and continue to be in, but I just have to hope that we can be careful enough. I hate having that fear hanging over this time that's already so sad and stressful.