My Uncle Dale
Apr. 14th, 2004 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansThe strangeness began yesterday with the death of Tim's (BarakSF) cousin Paul at the age of 32. It continued later in the day when I got news of the death of an actress friend in Houston. Diane died of ovarian cancer and had planned her own funeral, dubbed "The Pageant". Dear friends in Texas attended and shared the details of the service. Betwixt this news, was the phone call telling my family that my Uncle Dale, my Mom's younger brother, has congestive heart failure and his lungs had collapsed. He is not expected to make it. Dale is only 16 years older than me....a sobering fact.
I wheeled into action today. Though I am in Seattle and my parents are in the Houston area, I planned the trip to Erie, Pennsylvania for them. They are Senior Citizens who are among the large group of people who I suspect haven't flown since before 9/11.
Mixed into the travel arrangements for Thursday is dealing with their fear of flying; the changes in security and ticketing since they last flew; my dad's frailty since his 2002 stroke and mom's overwhelming sadness. Mom lost her brother Ken in 2003 and my parents drove to Erie from Branson, Missouri where they were celebrating their 50th anniversary. No time for that this time. They must fly.
A salute to Southwest Airlines and their Senior Fares. Seniors can fly anywhere the airline flies for $129 + taxes for a one-way segment. No advance required - unlimited changes, cancellations or refunds up to an hour before flight time - just be 65 or older and pick a date when the seats are available. My folks can stay three days, a week, a month, come to Seattle after Erie or return home. Each segment is $129 + taxes. If you are fortunate to have your parents and they are seniors, please keep this in mind if they need to travel.
This special class of fare is particularly welcome when no one knows how long or if Dale will survive. A similar call to Continental (which flies into Erie with an assist from Northwest) netted a "special"?? bereavement fare of $900 per person. This required documentation from the hospital, attending doctor or the funeral home.
Despite Southwest's "passenger weight" policy which I have a problem with and is a separate subject, I am just glad Mom and Dad can get to Erie via Cleveland and have the flexibility to roll with the punches. They leave from Austin tomorrow morning. Dad's dog Dixie will visit my sister while they are gone.
Dale is in a medical-induced coma today, just hanging on, so my parents are headed to the unknown. Dale and his wife Bonnie were introduced to each other via my sister and me. We were at an amusement park in Western New York over 30 years ago and told Dale he needed to go up and introduce himself to that pretty lady. We were match-making kids.
My heart and thoughts are filled with memories, so please forgive me, my friends and fellow diarists, the preoccupation tonight with death and dying and the stroll down memory lane.
I am prepared for the news that my uncle is gone. But it will be such sad news. Dale worked hard all of his life and it has been a difficult life, filled with poor health and a brood of destructive, out-of-control children. I hope his passing, if it is his time, is a peaceful one. He deserves peace. He was my youngest uncle. He is my last uncle.
I wheeled into action today. Though I am in Seattle and my parents are in the Houston area, I planned the trip to Erie, Pennsylvania for them. They are Senior Citizens who are among the large group of people who I suspect haven't flown since before 9/11.
Mixed into the travel arrangements for Thursday is dealing with their fear of flying; the changes in security and ticketing since they last flew; my dad's frailty since his 2002 stroke and mom's overwhelming sadness. Mom lost her brother Ken in 2003 and my parents drove to Erie from Branson, Missouri where they were celebrating their 50th anniversary. No time for that this time. They must fly.
A salute to Southwest Airlines and their Senior Fares. Seniors can fly anywhere the airline flies for $129 + taxes for a one-way segment. No advance required - unlimited changes, cancellations or refunds up to an hour before flight time - just be 65 or older and pick a date when the seats are available. My folks can stay three days, a week, a month, come to Seattle after Erie or return home. Each segment is $129 + taxes. If you are fortunate to have your parents and they are seniors, please keep this in mind if they need to travel.
This special class of fare is particularly welcome when no one knows how long or if Dale will survive. A similar call to Continental (which flies into Erie with an assist from Northwest) netted a "special"?? bereavement fare of $900 per person. This required documentation from the hospital, attending doctor or the funeral home.
Despite Southwest's "passenger weight" policy which I have a problem with and is a separate subject, I am just glad Mom and Dad can get to Erie via Cleveland and have the flexibility to roll with the punches. They leave from Austin tomorrow morning. Dad's dog Dixie will visit my sister while they are gone.
Dale is in a medical-induced coma today, just hanging on, so my parents are headed to the unknown. Dale and his wife Bonnie were introduced to each other via my sister and me. We were at an amusement park in Western New York over 30 years ago and told Dale he needed to go up and introduce himself to that pretty lady. We were match-making kids.
My heart and thoughts are filled with memories, so please forgive me, my friends and fellow diarists, the preoccupation tonight with death and dying and the stroll down memory lane.
I am prepared for the news that my uncle is gone. But it will be such sad news. Dale worked hard all of his life and it has been a difficult life, filled with poor health and a brood of destructive, out-of-control children. I hope his passing, if it is his time, is a peaceful one. He deserves peace. He was my youngest uncle. He is my last uncle.
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no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 12:51 am (UTC)Update on Dale
Date: 2004-04-16 01:45 pm (UTC)Uncle Dale - Part 3
Date: 2004-04-18 11:24 pm (UTC)