daddylane's Cancer Blog
April 12, 2008
| Part Two... | Views: 489 |
Well, here we go. The remainder of my update on the last week…oh wait I just looked and the second to last posting that is titled “Another Swell Day” dated April 1st? This time warp has been brought to you by the makers of CREST! I gotta pay rent again soon, but before that…I seriously can not believe that much time has gone by. I have officially been in Maryland now for a month. I miss Jasper like crazy! Annette will be needing my assistance with the move and, and, and! Wow the pace doesn’t seem be slowing down in the least here.
However, now that I have regained my composure please allow me to continue; with Monday looking like it was the only day to have some down time I went to D.C. to get lost on purpose for several hours, I ate a delicious buffalo chicken sandwich and then regretted it for the rest of the night and all day Tuesday, I don’t think I’ll go back for another sandwich at Trusty’s on Penn Ave anytime soon. While I was recouping Tuesday Bill, Bob and Mike show up and spent the afternoon laughing it up and reminiscing with Daddy Lane at the house.
Wednesday the boys showed up in the AM to steal the Old Man for a couple of hours of sight seeing in our nations capitol (WW2, Korea and the Vietnam War memorials) and pints of Guiness at an Irish pub….why wasn’t I invited?
Thursday was the big day. Dad was giving a presentation at his NARFE (National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees) meeting of which he is PRESIDENT. Mom and I were both giving each other “that look” in the morning before the meeting because we knew how tired Dad was. The day before with the boys was a big affair and he had a blast, but at this point in the game he pays for that kind of fun so he looked exhausted. However, not to bum ya’ll out because the sightseeing was dynamite for Dads soul and his presentation ended up going really well, Dad ran that baby! Tellin the older folks about end of life issues and bringing very real and pertinent issues to the attention of this special community seniors. They really appreciate Dad’s energy and commitment to their organization.
The gang was there and Bill took some outstanding photos of Pop-Pop regulating on the microphone, Straight Gangsta! He’s one hell of a guy that Jerry Lane! Always rockin the fine threads and puttin’ his mack hand down! Go Daddy Lane! Dad arranged for a Doctor from Hospice to give a presentation and answer some questions about end of life issues. It was very helpful for a lot of people and I had a lot of people tell me how much they love both of my special parents! Yay!
Then it was off to Paul’s for a quick video taping of the fella’s talkin’ about their early days together; some talk of girls and how they did really stupid stuff. Stuff that now they look back on and ask themselves how the hell they made it out alive. I’ll just say this, if it was nowa days they would have been locked up and/or been prescribed medications to address their naughty ways! Crazy teenagers! Very cool to gain more insight into my fathers early years, hearing stories that I probably never would have been able to hear are now preserved for my children’s children to have some understand of their roots and who their crazy, funny Pop-Pop was. Kudos to Paul for taping the sessions, making copies for everyone a couple of hours after the sessions and opening his home to us. Paul’s wife Maureen has been a great help in making all of this happen too. Thank you both so much! The Mink family rocks!
Lookin’ crazy tired (but happy) the old timer took the rest of the night off.
This provided me with the opportunity that I had been looking for… to utilize Daddy Lane’s smoker, that earlier I pulled onto the back porch! MMMMMM! Gooooooooddddd! I cooked a couple of chickens and some pork tenderloin with some apples! Thanks Daddy Lane for schooling me on the finer points of meat grilling and knowing about a fine bottle of wine!
Friday was a stone cold party! We met up with the trouble makers and made the rounds at the American Indian museum. What a special time! The museum is truly a unique experience. The displays are all created by the tribes they represent and have a first person voice that creates a different type of museum experience. You get to hear “We” rather than “They” and that makes for a different learning dynamic. Highly recommended.
It was tough to see the guys leave. Many good, happy experiences ranging from childhood tom-foolery to sophisticated kayak trips in the wilderness ( the old man went with them for an adventure right after his first chemo round and they all had a blast) solidify a life long bond. Daddy Lane had a big smile as he showed the upmost style and class as usual with the goodbyes. It’s brutal knowing that it may be the last time you get to see someone, but the opportunity provided by being able to say “I Love You” (or what ever it is that old school buddies say to each other to convey warm feelings) truly is priceless.
Today, Saturday, Dan-O and Jessica came by for a brief but amazing visit…..very brief, very amazing! Yesterday they drove (in a borrowed BMW!) to Richmond to lamp with (kind of like chillin but way cooler) Annette and the posse, so they drove up to Maryland for the day and hung out with us long enough for everyone to get a dose of Dan-O buzz. Buzzzzzzzzz! The man is amazing and that woman is amazing! They are a great deal of fun to be around, exuding love and a warmth that I wouldn’t usually relate to well trained soldiers, much less cute fabulous camoflauge wearin’, patchulie smellin’ super stars. While the old folks caught up with the youngsters I chopped veggies, steamed ‘em cooked ‘em (in honey and garlic) and re-heated that yummy smoked chicken (all the while Hank Williams crooned ever so lightly in the background). We had a bad-ass late lunch (sipping on Pop-Pop’s special peach champagne) then watched highlights of the video of Dan-O’s graduation from Ranger training where his leadership and bullweavel hunting skill were awarded with adorable little medals. More heartfelt see ya later’s went down so they could go to Arlington cemetery to pay their respects to fallen comrades. More complex and difficult emotions were stirred up by that. We all will be praying for the rugged one’s safe and sane return from his next deployment coming up in May to the Wild Wild West in Iraq. Godspeed!
So this is it? That was no nutshell but you made it through, almost, to the end of this entry.
I am so honored and pleased to look and see how many people have read this blog, (over 3 thousand the last time I looked!) people intent on showing Daddy Lane respect and love. People that are concerned and are praying for our family and my fathers well being. Our family, the crazy clan that emits a type energy that is rare period, much less in this day and age. As people continue to seek solace in seemingly shallow and trivial pursuits to know that we have so many special and real connections with quality individuals is amazing. Your support and love is a testament to my fathers legacy. Words will never be able to define how special and important little things are in the development and stabilization of our communities and family. The little things that come naturally to Jerry Lane. He is a great man. A great father. An awesome grandfather. A good brother, husband, neighbor, leader and community activist. A man that will tell you from his heart how he feels without ever seeming aggressive or disrespectful just straight forward and real. The values and ideals that he carries with him to this day are inspirational and an honor to witness. I have been blessed. This time I am spending with my parents is so valuable. I want to ask everyone reading this to, at one point or another in the course of your week, make an effort to let someone close to you know how special they are to you. But don’t end it there. Make an effort to pass on the gift that we have been lucky enough to get to assist/support/love one another. It doesn’t even have to be anything more than leaving a text message or e-mail for someone when cross your mind…just to tell them that you are thinking of them. We need each other. We are a bigger community than we give credit to ourselves. We we can make a huge difference in each others lives simply by doing right in the moment by precious moments, day by precious days.
Thanks, sorry about the rant at the end, I’m pickin up on some yogi vibes or something here….
Timmy D
PS Don’t forget to brush your teeth real good tonight, Pop-Pop does!
Part Two..., 
3 comments)
06.22.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Hi Timothy,
I enjoyed reading this post so much. Everyone should listen carefully to what you said because so many people don’t really understand the importance of being with and loving their loved ones until it is too late. Daddy and Momma Lane are exceptional people and you are indeed blessed to have them for parents. You seem to be pretty exceptional yourself for keeping us all informed. I will be praying for all your family. May God Bless and be with you.
Hugs, Joyce
Timothy – What an inspiring post. Thank you for sharing a snapshot of your family with us. I am going to call my parents today and tell them how amazing they are. ;-)
I missed you guys terribly when you were unable to keep up with the blog. Understandably given all the people who were in town and all the chaufering and cooking you were doing! Although I speak with you almost daily, reading your blog is an entirely different story, although your sense of humor is always present!
As Cousin Cadden said in her comments, YOU are an inspiration. Can you believe the tremendous fortune we have had in seeing so many members of our magnificent family in such a short period of time??! Blessings in abundance, love never ending, and support all sustaining. If all that you’ve shared through this blog doesn’t demonstrate the importance of family (blood as well as friends whom we consider to be family), I don’t know what does! Thank you for all your hard work, Tim. I am eternally grateful for your gift of gab … on the keyboard and on the phone. :-)