Now that I’ve calmed down somewhat, here’s a recap of my lovely day:

This AM wrestled the kids out of the house and to day care / summer camp.

My car’s temperature gauge looks like it is on a trampoline. The car drives the same, I’m watching for any other signs of overheating and not seeing them. But it’s driving me nuts with worry.

My wife calls at 11:00 and says she got word that her dad is fading, and fast. He is still at the hospital and whereas on Tuesday they were arranging for a 24 hr nurse and hospice care, at this point they are calling funeral homes. She bolts town.

I E-mail my soccer team to tell them I won’t be there tonite.
Update Update: my team won, 7 – 3, so I wasn’t really missed

I go to the dentist, and the cheerful lady tells me that my teeth are so atrocious that they are going to split my cleaning into two appointments “since otherwise there is too much trauma.” Oh joy. The dentist pops in for forty-five seconds, happy that he has found somebody to help pay for his summer vacation, which starts today. So I can look forward to dragging out the teeth fixin’ for a couple of months at least.

At 4:55 my wife calls to say her dad is gone. She was able to sit with him for a while, right up to the end. It was as peaceful as it could be. I was the last one in my office and, well, that turned out to be a good thing.

I round up the kids, make dinner, and go to swim lessons. After swim lessons we go to the store. My wife calls my cell (while I’m halfway between the milk and ice cream) to say she’s going to find a hotel room so she can have some quiet time.

After we’re home and the baby is in bed, I cuddled with the boys and explained that Poppa had passed away. They knew he was sick (he said good-bye to my oldest on Sunday) and they listened intently. My oldest asked if they were going to cut him open to see what was wrong. I said I didn’t know, I didn’t think so since they kinda knew. He explained to me that cutting open is much better than x-rays since the x-rays don’t always tell you much. I’m thinking he’ll make a fine doctor someday, and that he takes after his mom.

So, now I’m sitting in the dark, at the PC, nursing a beer, and taking consolation in the comments y’all have left. I’m about to devour a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Then I’m gonna go try and find a spot on the bed between the kids, dogs and cat and go to sleep.

And that’s my day.