Yesterday afternoon, after a brief chat with the hospital chaplain, Dad said, "I'm ready."

A half hour later, he was gone.

None of us were there. We were all "tending to business" just as Dad would have wanted us to. Because that's what he was doing too.

His time of rest followed a week of increasing confusion, periodic delusional episodes, and no small amount of pain. I give thanks he did not linger to suffer longer.

It means I won't be going to Beautiful River Spot, and won't get to see RM or CG Auntie, or all the other dear friends I was so looking forward to seeing, but, as the German proverb goes, "God's time is the best time."

Thanks to you all for your support over these past months.

Grace and peace,

NSCR