Today family and friends gathered for my father’s funeral at Faith Lutheran Church in Middletown where he raised his family. A Navy veteran on subs during the Korean Conflict, he was given full military honors. Two pastors who knew him presided. He died one week after signing up for hospice service. No lingering, no suffering. Just loving care from his daughters and hospice.

I am giving myself two days to decompress and repack, and plan to head south Friday. I can’t take too many more nights in the 30s.