07/29/2026
I've fallen behind in my communication with my community, and I apologize. My dad passed away on July 11th~the day that we (my kids, spouses, partners, grandbaby, brother) start our annual lake week in Brainerd, MN. I had just returned home from Montana, and was unpacking all the food at our cabin when I received the call.
Fast forward, my brother, Todd, and I are standing in my dad's apartment that evening~the day he died, in shock, and feeling like we had stepped into a time capsule as he had a half drank glass of ice tea by his recliner, and had just eaten a piece of cake, as the plate and cake crumbs and fork were still on his counter...it was surreal. We debated whether to continue lake week or not as we were now being tasked with making final decisions for him, and planning his funeral. As we talked in his apartment, it just came to me that YES, we should definitely continue on with lake week, as the lake was my dad's favorite place, and we would all be together. I said to my brother, "Dad will give us a sign during lake week that he's with us, and that he's alright."
That night, I received a call at 2am from my son, as my kids, their spouses/partners stayed at the cabin while we were sorting things out. My 2am call was my son letting me know that the fire alarms were going off, the lights were flashing, and that they were sitting in their vehicles waiting for the fire department to come. The fire department determined that nothing was wrong. They reset the alarms, and reassured my kids that it was safe to be there. I knew immediately that I had received the sign I had asked for, but I had not specified that 2am may not be a great time! Careful what you ask for!
I told my son it was grandpa, and had explained to him that I had asked for a sign, to which my son said, "Well, could you ask him not to do it in the middle of the night anymore?" We got a good laugh, and I told him I would reiterate no more 2am signs, which he has honored thus far.
In this beautiful work that I do, I had no doubt that my dad was just fine after he passed from this physical plane, but it is always comforting to get that "sign" we look for. It made me smile, it made us laugh, and it certainly seemed like a 2am sign would be just his style, to wake everyone up.
However, I/we are still human, so the grief is real. And complicated grief is a thing too~all the feels. Some days are exhausting. Some days are great. Some days are hard. Some days are numb.
But I'm here, and I'm about to head back to Montana after a beautiful memorial service we had for my dad yesterday...which we also learned from the Pastor that lead the service that our grandma, my dad's mother's funeral was 20 years ago to the day, in the same church...and I played piano for that funeral as well. Another Divine sign. My brother and I had not realized that or known that when we planned our dad's funeral for yesterday: Tuesday, July 28th.
SO grateful to my family, friends, and community. I've been lifted in love and support, and I'm so grateful. BIGGEST love to you all. It really is about LOVE. ....And I'm not saying that to preach, I'm saying that to remind myself. Love, love, love, love, love. That's all there is. That's all that matters.
