Dark tones

I do not feel as secure as I did the week before. On Sunday, Cindy and I drove back to Dunwoody from the North Georgia mountains and met Momma and Kate in Dad's hospital room at St. Joseph's. The swelling in dad's face had subsided and I was able to talk with him and have him respond in a normal fashion. I didn't have to guess what he was saying. I told him I had caught a rainbow trout with the fishing rod and reel he had bought me for Christmas. We talked about Ravenscliffs Falls and Dukes Creek Falls and he commented that the twin falls at Dukes Creek were very pretty. At one point in the visit, a pulmonary doctor came in and told him he would probably be going home the next day. Everything was optimistic.

Tonight everything took a darker tone. Around 10:15, Susan called and informed me that dad had fallen on the stairs at home and the emt's were coming to take him back to the hospital. I told her I would be coming up. When I got off the phone, I suggested to Cindy and Kate that all three, four with Tex, should go up to Dunwoody. Kate took a shower and Cindy and I packed our bags.

The phone rang and Lily was calling from the next door neighbor's house. I spoke with them, then called Susan again, who informed me that Dad had passed. I called Frank and let him know the news. I promised I would tell him more later.

Then I had to tell Kate. Now we are in Dunwoody with Mom and Lily and Susan, Kevin and the girls. It is time to go to bed and try to sleep. I am not sure how easy that will be. I have to be in court in the morning in Lawrenceville. Nothing can be done that early. I will attend the hearing then return and cancel my appointments for the rest of the day.

Everything seems frozen now. People are saying things, making promises, wishes, prayers. There will be more later. But everything seems unreachable. The world is a little sadder this early, early morning. The Founder of the Feast is sleeping.

"A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing."