Let The Peace Begin

It seems so odd to begin writing a regular blog post after posting about my dad's death on October 27th.

Oh. That is the first time I've actually put those two words together. Big sting. Deep breath. It's like I don't want to cover up what I wrote the day he died....it feels wrong....I can't explain it. I was alone with him when he passed and somehow his presence on this page helps me keep that sacred moment close to me. Does that make sense? Although the pain of watching him take his last breath was wrenching, there was a stillness and a raw electric energy I've never ever felt this side of Heaven's gates before. It was like being in a Holy place. I literally felt him leave. Call it the presence of God, the life force, or whatever you will....Holy Ground is Holy Ground.

It was an extraordinary moment.

And one I will write about later.

I know this too shall pass...the falling apart when I see chainsaws in the hardware store,
or fresh tomatoes on the vine (see his homegrown tomatoes here) or a Peanuts cartoon strip. So my friends tell me. And even though we laid him to rest on Thursday in his favorite Carolina shirt, it doesn't seem possible to me that he is really gone. This too shall pass?

So my friends tell me.

Today I asked my Papa, who must surely by now, be having a grand conversation with Daddy - to talk to him about the peace globes. Along about dinner time I started feeling OK about posting again and to talk to you like the friends you've become.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Your cards, your virtual hugs, your real-time hugs, your phone calls, your blessings, your poems, your marvelous peace globes, your letters, your chat messages, your candle lighting for my dad, your Facebook comments, your text messages, for forming a posse of Peace Globe Worker Bees to keep the peace spinning...I will forever be grateful and amazed.

Thank you for your Reiki and most of all your prayers.

One blogger brought me a real live hug all the way from his corner of the world. He knows.

Another blogger named Ferd (The Best Parts) brought his lovely wife Princess Gail and their son to stand with me at my dad's wake. Please visit his blog when you get a chance.

We met for the first time there and will share a peace globes celebration next week on November 5th at Bloggingham along with a few more bloggers in our area.

Can you imagine how special it was for me to meet them under those circumstances?

They showed enormous compassion to me and my family.

I have been inundated with overwhelming kindness.

I have been uplifted and held afloat by people I've never met.

I have been blessed with prayers for healing of my body and soul.

I have received support from many corners of the globe and held high in prayer by people of all faiths.

I wish for all of you the same in return a hundred times over

when you need it

when you least expect it

when you fall down in private

when you fall down in public (I seem to do that a lot)
I am living proof that there are angels on this earth walking around in human form..
I've met a whole slew of 'em (as Tarheel Daddy would say)

Thank you for holding me up
Thank you for holding my hand
Thank you for allowing me space
Thank you for giving me time when-oh-my-Lord-there-are-only-THREE-days left-til-BlogBlast-for-peace - I'm sure I will need some more downtime in a while.

Most of all, thank you for honoring my father with your words and deeds of compassion.

This sculpture stands outside the hospital where daddy spent the last few weeks of his life. Everyday I would pass by and think of the people who were taking time out of their day to hold me up. I felt your squeezes (Ann, that was for you)

your touch and your strength.

When I held my father's hand, he could feel it too.

And that made his journey home all the more filled with warmth and joy

Let the peace begin.

*My Daddy Is Gone**
How To Get Your Peace Globe