No one prepares you for the finality of death. The emotional ups and downs. The highs and lows of the preparation.
My Father requested for private time with our daughters. They made my Dad laugh. He wrote down on paper "You are beautiful. I love you more than you will ever know". They left to return to North Carolina this morning. To leave the stale hospital air and venture back to the blissful bubble of collegiate life.
Dad signed over the title of his Volvo to my sister in law. He gave my husband strict instructions to split the estate straight down the middle: an equal portion to my brother and I. It was the furthest thing from my mind. He told us to call the funeral home. To call the church. To turn off his cable and contact Verizon.
He wrote on a piece of paper "Please text Suzanne and Sonny [my in laws] it has been my joy and pleasure to know them". He then requested we find a notary to witness the signing of his will. He instructed that he would say goodbye to my nephew after he got home from school. My brothers in laws came to say goodbye. The Doctors approved a martini. They removed the ventilator long enough for Dad to drink his martini. My in laws raised a glass with George right there in his ICU room. His nurses toasted him as well. He requested to be taken off of life support at 6 PM.
The goodbyes were said and the toasts to life were completed. And then... The notary republic didn't show.
Tuesday morning we will meet the notary republic. Extend the life support machine long enough for us to go home for 48 hours. To allow my brother to check in with work for a day. We will reconvene on Thursday.
What must it be like to wait to die? Jesus knew. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew his fate.
I prayed with my Daddy today. I told him The Lord was his salvation. That he'd be in heaven with a healthy body, with his parents, and my Mother. It was okay to rest. It was okay to go. He wrote down "I know. You are beautiful. I love you. I'm proud of you. I'm very tired. I'm ready".
So we wait, just like Jesus did. With trepidation and angst in this fleshly world. Cheers to you, George. Even in death you are giving orders and charming the hospital staff. We'd expect no less. You are one of a kind. We love you.
"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”-
John 14:2-3
