I thought that I would be writing to you about the quilt show in Houston today for my blog. But, things change. When my plane landed in the Harrisburg airport yesterday I turned on my phone and put it back in my purse. Within one minute my phone rang. I thought it might be Joe calling to say he would be late coming to the airport to pick up me and Barb. But, it was my dad’s wife telling me that my dad had just passed away. I am crying as I write this. My dad had been in and out of the hospital all summer but the week before I left for Houston he was home and doing much better. He and his wife, Linda, had done a little yard work in the morning and then my dad came inside to sit in his favorite chair and watch football. One of his favorite things in the world to do. He simply fell asleep in the chair and never woke up. I am thankful to have had 54 years with my father and to have many fond memories of him…like when he came home from work and had purchased a beautiful red, white and blue basketball for me. I played high school basketball and my father was very proud of me. He never missed any of my games. It was especially awesome when I made the foul shot that took us into the playoffs. He was there to see it. He also took us fishing in Canada, trips in the camper to the Jersey shore… I will never forget his beautiful smile….and so much more. Many of you who have attended my lecture called “From the Beginning: Album of a Quilter” will remember me talking about how my dad was a quiet guy and when I gave him copies of my books and magazines with my quilts inside and on the cover, he would say thanks and not much else. So, I thought he never really understood what it was that I do. But, when I met him at one of his favorite restaurants, The Ranch House, he introduced me to the waitresses who he’d come to know over the years and they all said to me “Are you the quilter?” and I said, “Yes” and they said your dad talks about you all the time and brings in your books and magazines, etc. to show us. So, even though he was on the quiet side I knew then that he knew what I did. I’m thankful that he died at home and in no pain. I am also very thankful that his wife, Linda, was able to spend the last 31 years of his life making him happy. Linda was very good to my dad. I am thankful that when my dad was in and out of the hospital he seemed to time it just right so that I was not traveling and I could spend some time with him every single day that he was in the hospital over the past couple of years. I always joked with him about how much I appreciated his timing. So it is fitting that he died at the end of one of my trips. I got to kiss him goodbye.
Here are just a few of my favorite photos.
I am still crying as I write this but I fell better being able to share with you just a small part of my time with my dad.