So.

My dad passed away on Thursday. Had a massive heart attack and died. Which, if you think about it, is pretty much the best way for an 80 year old, insulin dependant diabetic to go. It was a bit of a shock, but then again, not really. He's been in awful condition for such a long time, and abused his body pretty much his whole life.

It's interesting. My dad was a hard man. Bad at relationships, hard to take at times, but I find myself only focusing on the good. I guess that is what happens. He taught me to fly airplanes. Showed me the joy in little things (we used to go for wonderful waterfall weekends where we would drive to waterfalls and look at them. And I loved it). He would stop at any carousel and let me ride on it. He was my 'fun' parent for much of my childhood - letting me do and eat whatever I wanted on the weekends I spent with him. He always has great stories (if he did manage to insert himself into them in a bit of a fictional way).

So tomorrow, I fly into NC to spend the week (god save me) with my stepmother and my half-brothers and hope that it's OK. Hope that Aaron survives with two kids on his own for almost a whole week, and hope that I can deal with Dad's crazy extended family. I'm sure there will be stories to tell on the other side.

Happy new year.