Nov. 20th, 2019 01:05 pm
Unc the Monk
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muckefuckThere's not much I can do from Chicago to help with preparations for Dad's memorial, but everything seems well in hand. His widow is basically taking the service we had for my brother as a template so it's just a matter of switching up the songs, finding some speakers, and picking a caterer. No one's asked me yet if I'd like to speak so I haven't given it any thought.
Since we've set the date, I've been trying to help contact folks who might be interested but won't have heard through the usual channels. Last night I tried to pick Mom's brain for the names of old friends of theirs but she wasn't much help. I did find the proper spelling and occupation of one of Dad's old mates from the Papal Volunteers so I can try hunting him down.
Sis pointed out that it was likely that no one had told Father a.k.a. "Uncle" Tom, who's a Trappist living in Georgia. I volunteered to call the monastery but I stupidly rang right before sext so all I could do was leave message. Father Tom called back but didn't leave an extension in his message so I had to wait until he tried again.
He finally caught up with me this morning before work. I almost wasn't sure it was him; in my mind, he sounded much different. Of course, I hadn't spoken to him since 1994 and a lot can change in that time. His recall is getting fuzzy and his memories of my dad weren't the best ("Is that Kathy's brother?"). He did say it was hard to talk to him because he was so opinionated and I was like "That tracks".
He asked for the date but I suspect it's just to include him in his prayers that day, since I can't really see him making the trek out to St Louis for the service. After all, he'll be 92 in a month! But you always want to give someone the option if you can.
Since we've set the date, I've been trying to help contact folks who might be interested but won't have heard through the usual channels. Last night I tried to pick Mom's brain for the names of old friends of theirs but she wasn't much help. I did find the proper spelling and occupation of one of Dad's old mates from the Papal Volunteers so I can try hunting him down.
Sis pointed out that it was likely that no one had told Father a.k.a. "Uncle" Tom, who's a Trappist living in Georgia. I volunteered to call the monastery but I stupidly rang right before sext so all I could do was leave message. Father Tom called back but didn't leave an extension in his message so I had to wait until he tried again.
He finally caught up with me this morning before work. I almost wasn't sure it was him; in my mind, he sounded much different. Of course, I hadn't spoken to him since 1994 and a lot can change in that time. His recall is getting fuzzy and his memories of my dad weren't the best ("Is that Kathy's brother?"). He did say it was hard to talk to him because he was so opinionated and I was like "That tracks".
He asked for the date but I suspect it's just to include him in his prayers that day, since I can't really see him making the trek out to St Louis for the service. After all, he'll be 92 in a month! But you always want to give someone the option if you can.
Tags: