The Unexpected in Life

It’s Tuesday morning.  I can tell by the leaf blower making the rounds in our courtyard.  It’s a weekly ritual that keeps this apartment complex clean.  They came early today, maybe to encourage me to get moving.  I have a lot to do and a real need to start easing back into my “real” life.  I should say my daily life.  This easing back is necessitated by recent personal tragedy.

It’s been just under two weeks since my dad had a massive heart attack and died.  It was sudden, unexpected, and extremely fast.  And by some wondrous blessing I had dinner with him and my two siblings the night before.  A fact made particularly noteworthy due to the nearly 600 miles between the place I  currently call home and the area the rest of my immediate family lives.

While this is a terrible event and has brought great sorrow into my life, it is a testament to what a great man my father was that I find myself focusing on just how blessed I was to have him in my life for so long.  Each story that gets shared reminds me of how special he was and shows me just how much the other people who knew my dad appreciated him.  It’s hard to ask for more.  Even the twenty plus more years I wanted -expected.

For over a week after his death, I stayed with my family, my mom, my brother, and my sister.  We grieved together and created rituals of goodbye that were appropriate to my dad.  This coming weekend we will celebrate his life.  And again this summer.  There are so many people who knew and loved my dad around the world.  We want them all to have a chance to celebrate his life with us.  But in the mean time, my life goes on.

And my life includes this blog.    Durning the time I was at my parents’ house I realized I had to simply let go of posting for a bit.  The internet connection was slow and cranky.  I was grieving and I was not prepared for this (see the post just before this one).  But I have returned home and once again the internet will play nice with my computer.  It’s time to get back to doing the things I love.  Studying acting, sharing my adventures and what I’m learning from them.  Developing rituals in my daily life to support me on my journey.  Connecting with people.

I am easing back into my daily life and that may mean a couple more missed posts before I’m back to my schedule.  That’s just part of the journey.  I have a lot to think about.  A lot to process.  I am so grateful to have had my dad in my life.  While he didn’t teach me about acting specifically there are many things I learned from him that apply.  And I will share them with you.