Packing Up

7/8/11 Walking out the door. Heading to Kentucky. Headed home, as I have known it, for the last time. There will no longer be an Adams resident at 2211 or 2422. I'm meeting family to "pack up" Daddy's things and all the household possessions that will be his no more. That makes me sad. One more step in the grieving and wrapping up of a life of a sweet daddy.

I'm packing my Houston High "Dotsy" quilt to take with me----the one with all the prayers. The one that offered solace for me all those months in Texas. The quilt and the continuing prayers of friends. I'm going to need them both.

ROADWAY RECOLLECTIONS

6/21/11 Emotionally and physically drained----will post thoughts tomorrow.

Sorry, “that tomorrow” came and went but here are ramblings from my “steno” as I traveled to Memphis the day after Daddy’s funeral.

• Storm clouds looming----reflective of my mood as Molly and Larry bookended me as we drove to Memphis. Molly lead and her big Explorer was easy to follow (after I had a major meltdown) Larry was following in his Jeep to pick up the pieces and protect if I got off course again.
  

• Molly shared from today's Jesus Calling---she read Penni Liles copy that morn. Mine was still packed in the trunk.
  
• Grateful that Josh & Megan were safely home in Brooklyn & that Scott Liles took Buddy to catch his EARLY flt to Dallas----not sure I could have said good-by to one more loved one & not sure I even had the energy to fight the Nashville commuters’ traffic.
  
• As rain streaked my windshield & tears streaked my face, Fish radio (94 FM) played “…. what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
 What if Your healing comes through tears?....”
  
• Recalling funeral message morsels of words that described Daddy and the emphasis that though he was a man of few words, his life spoke volumes---a man of faith, a man of more walk than talk.
  
• Love language Daddy shared with his kids, from pig Latin to alfalfa/wolf talk.
  
• Surreal feeling when arriving home---as if I had left a daughter, and came home without that tag on my identity----like an orphan, yet knowing how ridiculous that sounds because I have great memories of my earthly father and the ever Presence of my heavenly Father.
  
• Realizing that I still had socks he wore on Monday (6/13) before they understood he could no longer even sit up.
  
• That night I slept in Daddy’s socks!