"I'd Let That Lonesome Whistle Blow My Blues Away" Johnny Cash
I flew out on Tuesday, leaving behind my candy-colored tank tops and Carolina blue skies. I arrived that same night to a frosty and empty Indianapolis, awash in Final Four posters and the concentrated stink of midwestern thunderstorms.
I started chain-smoking again, almost immediately. In fact, that's how I first saw my long-absent father. Apparently, said father has remarried and is now an active dad and husband for his sub-par replacement family (my disaffection for these people is worsened by their being Duke fans). He also admitted to helping himself to an unhealthy dosage of my Blogster entries. He said he hoped I wasn't angry, and I really can't be angry can I? I put it out there and a lot of people read it. Well, some people read it anyway. Ick.
Now, being that I'm a jovial fellow, I decided to take the high road and make nice with my...step-family. ICK. On Wednesday and Thursday I obeyed my self-imposed duties and entertained with, introduced myself to, reminisced with, and comforted the stream of people who visited the small Amish funeral home where the viewing was held. The viewing. Ick. Come in, sign the book, respectfully (or out of phsyical necessity) slowly walk past the rows of unused chairs, introduce yourself to me (yes, he was, is my grandfather), wet my collar with your tears, (yes, I remember he loved his coffee), and then stare at the body in that white-satin filled coffin. That's what you came for?
Not yet did I cry. The skin on my thumb cracked open from my continuous smoking in 30 and 40 degree weather.
Friday morning began windy, gray and wet. A beautiful back country day according to my grandmother. I donned my "Look, I'm Catholic" outfit, wrapped a Rosary around my hand and followed my family to the Church of Former Amishmen. As we filed past my grandfather for the last time, I reached out. I don't know why. And then I began to weep. When I finally collapsed sobbing in front of my Grandfather's coffin, I felt my father's arm around my shoulders, and we helped each other into the church.
Mom's pretty broken up. I talked to her on the phone last night and she's sitting alone watching old family movies and crying. There's probably an empty bottle or two of wine sitting around, but that's really none of my business anymore.
I started chain-smoking again, almost immediately. In fact, that's how I first saw my long-absent father. Apparently, said father has remarried and is now an active dad and husband for his sub-par replacement family (my disaffection for these people is worsened by their being Duke fans). He also admitted to helping himself to an unhealthy dosage of my Blogster entries. He said he hoped I wasn't angry, and I really can't be angry can I? I put it out there and a lot of people read it. Well, some people read it anyway. Ick.
Now, being that I'm a jovial fellow, I decided to take the high road and make nice with my...step-family. ICK. On Wednesday and Thursday I obeyed my self-imposed duties and entertained with, introduced myself to, reminisced with, and comforted the stream of people who visited the small Amish funeral home where the viewing was held. The viewing. Ick. Come in, sign the book, respectfully (or out of phsyical necessity) slowly walk past the rows of unused chairs, introduce yourself to me (yes, he was, is my grandfather), wet my collar with your tears, (yes, I remember he loved his coffee), and then stare at the body in that white-satin filled coffin. That's what you came for?
Not yet did I cry. The skin on my thumb cracked open from my continuous smoking in 30 and 40 degree weather.
Friday morning began windy, gray and wet. A beautiful back country day according to my grandmother. I donned my "Look, I'm Catholic" outfit, wrapped a Rosary around my hand and followed my family to the Church of Former Amishmen. As we filed past my grandfather for the last time, I reached out. I don't know why. And then I began to weep. When I finally collapsed sobbing in front of my Grandfather's coffin, I felt my father's arm around my shoulders, and we helped each other into the church.
Mom's pretty broken up. I talked to her on the phone last night and she's sitting alone watching old family movies and crying. There's probably an empty bottle or two of wine sitting around, but that's really none of my business anymore.

