My dad died this afternoon.

[murielm99]

He was eighty-six, and in hospice care. This was expected.

I am not entirely happy with the way things have been arranged, between my mother and their pastor. I think they are rushing things, and being high-handed.

The visitation is Wednesday, and the funeral is Thursday. I can't leave until Wednesday morning, and it is a five-hour trip. We will get to the visitation as soon as we can, but we may be a bit late.

I wanted to see the funeral and visitation delayed by one day, but the pastor has "an appointment" on Friday. My parents have been extremely faithful members of this church, and he can't accommodate the family?

My oldest daughter and my daughter-in-law can't get there in time for any of it. My nephew can only make the funeral, not the visitation. The community where my parents lived for more than forty years is just far enough away that some people who still live in that area will have a hard time getting there, too.

I am not feeling good about this at all. I think my brothers and I, and our families, should have had more say in the arrangements. The whole thing is unsettling. That is all I can say to describe it.

The last time I complained to this group, I was picked apart, so I stayed away for awhile. I suppose some of you will do that again, but I can't help my queasiness about this. I don't know what is wrong, beyond the loss of my father, but something is adding to my distress.