As I mentioned, this week was the one year anniversary of Dad's death. Dad had always intended to be cremated, and since he died in Italy, that was sort of mandatory. He'd always joked that Mom should just sprinkle his ashes on a golf course, but when finally confronted with the actual situation, Mom didn't quite feel that was right. So she simply ( Read more... )

My sister Betsy wrote this to commemorate the importance of this day to our family ( Read more... )

My brother Chet and his wife Heather, who live out in New York, have given me a superb gift.

I've mentioned Richard Serrin, before, my Dad's dear friend and an amazingly talented oil painter. You may remember the family portrait, and that it was at Richard and Dorothy's home that my dad died ( Read more... )

We've had a wonderful long weekend with my brother, Chet, visiting us in Minneapolis (Chet lives in New York). We've had a chance to help Mom go through Dad's belongings, as well as hearing Mom's concert on Saturday night with the Golden Valley Orchestra. Today we are marking what would have been Dad's 84th birthday. We are so grateful for the ( Read more... )

After I wrote last night's blog post about our odyssey at the airport, trying to pick up Dad's ashes, I tweeted the story to @united this morning ( here):My dad died while on vacation in Italy with my mom. As for getting his ashes back...really, @united? No, really? http://bit.ly/Ruewd7.
United responded ( here): @pegkerr We'd like to know more. Will ( Read more... )

There is a certain awkwardness associated with going to the airport to pick up one's father's ashes. As a package on a freight manifest, no less. Particularly when the last time he had been at that same airport, he was there to depart on a wonderful vacation with one's mother ( Read more... )

The family gathered at my sister Betsy's house last night. We met at my mom's for brunch this morning, and then we had the memorial service at Mom and Dad's church this afternoon. Fiona and Delia read one of the scripture readings (Psalm 100). Each of my siblings and I did a remembrance, about a couple minutes for each of us. They were very ( Read more... )

Writing a eulogy for one's father is hard.


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This will be running in the Star Tribune tomorrow: Edited to add: Link is here.


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My sisters and I (and Delia and one of my nephews) met my mom at the airport this afternoon. We are so glad to have her safely home again. She was very happy to see us, but clearly quite tired. We talked over some of the decisions we need to make, until it became clear she was truly too tired to focus any more on the conversation. My sisters and I ( Read more... )