I am so sorry that I was so completely under the weather when you posted this. Somehow I missed it, and therefore haven't been there for you when you needed all the love and support you could muster. I hope to talk to you soon. Feel free to call me.

*hugs and love*
Judi

I hope you're feeling better, hun. *hugs* I know how awful it is to be pukey sick. Gosh - I haven't even asked but I hope that your trip to D.C. was a good one.

Your support means a lot. I spent a goodly amount of time telling him over and over the things I needed him to hear. I was very surprised to find that his heart already seemed to have changed in the years since I had last seen him. He spent many years as a grief counselor (how ironic, no?) and he reached across racial lines to bring comfort to anyone who needed it. I couldn't be prouder of him for overcoming the handicap of his upbringing. The variety of people who visited him in the hospital and who came to his memorial service was heartening.

I was also thrilled to meet his "2nd family" (I need something to call them that doesn't make them sound like also-rans) which means I now have 3 new sisters and a new brother. There was lots of sorrow but I was lucky; it was tempered with joy.

I am saddened to hear that your dad didn't make it, although I suspected that would be the case based on your last letters. :( I AM thrilled, however, that you two seem to have but much of what went wrong between behind you. I know from the death of my father-in-law that unresolved issues can fester and come out later with shocking results. It must have been a very healing experience for you, and I'm grateful that you were able to be there for his last days.

Does this mean you're home now? I've thought a lot about you these last few weeks, wondering how things were going for you with your father.

The opening of Meg's show has been scheduled for the 20th (a Tuesday... not sure why) from 6 to 8 PM, so we'll be there bright and early on the morning of the 17th to start hanging all her pieces. We have only an hour and a half to get the job done, so I hope she invites a LOT of her friends along to help. I can't even imagine how we're supposed to get twenty large canvases on the walls in 90 minutes! *shiver*

*hugs* welcome home! How's Joe?

Thanks, hun. It was one of those situations that are infinitely sad but knowing how hard he fought and how much he suffered, I feel selfish to wish for anything but his own peace. I had gotten so used to seeing him at the hospital that it was a shock to see him without all the lines, tubes, and machines. I'm grateful beyond measure that Mom insisted I go when I did and that I got to witness firsthand how many people's lives he touched in a good way.

This is her show at Mo Mong, yes? It's just in time for a Wednesday night of fun! Two weeks from today -- woot! She must be thrilled. I won't be able to come out and help to hang art in light of all the time I've taken off recently (not that I'm a fully qualified preparator) but I'd love to come to the opening if it's open to the public.

Yes, I'm back in Houston now. Joe is currently snowed under in last minute details for the Classy Chassis at Reliant Stadium. He stresses over the show that they spend all year organizing but vintage cars are his passion so he's also a happy, happy boy.

OK - I'm an idiot. I just realized that the opening is Tuesday but the hanging is on a Saturday. As I said, I'm not a fully qualified preparator but if another set of hands would be helpful to you, let me know. I'd be happy to come out and help.

Omg, I would love to be able to turn you down on your offer, but we need all the hands we can gather!! One caveat tho- we have to be there at 8am on the morning of the 17th, and we only have 90 minutes to get the art up, so it'll be early as hell and we'll be working our tails off! But brunch is on me for any and all helpers!

Are you guys going to the pride parade, by chance? If you are, you might want to consider the deal that Friends of Pride have put together. (http://fophouston.org/)

You get unobstructed (invite-only) seating for the parade on bleachers that will be set up between Mary's and Chances on Montrose, as well as a parking space if you spring for the more expensive package.

*cringe* 8 a.m. is mighty early for a Saturday, but at least it's a shorter drive for me than it is for you. I'll be there.

Would you believe that I've never been to a Pride Parade? I don't count the year I lived just off the parade route as "attending." Joe is in no way prejudiced against gays/lesbians, but I don't know how interested he would be. I'll certainly ask him. If he isn't interested, I'll ask his Mom if she wants to go with me. It sounds like fun and in this time of constitutional amendment pushes, I feel the need to show my support. Thanks for the info - I never would have thought to buy tickets!

PLEASE feel free to sleep in on the morning of the 17th. I know it's an ungodly hour to be out of bed, let alone working hard LOL. You won't hurt our feelings or insult us at all!

I wish I had known you were back in town... we had an extra ticket for the Festival/Parade, but Meg invited one of her friends to go along. :(

I offered with the knowledge that it was "in the morning." 8 a.m. is early, to be sure, but I don't mind getting up and getting my day going. Left to my own devices, I'm a night owl and I won't get out of bed before 9 or 10 a.m. By then, a good chunk of the day is gone so I don't mind scheduling something for earlier most weekends.

Don't worry about the tickets. I appreciate the sentiment but if I buy tickets then that's more money for a good cause and it might be an opportunity to do something cool with Joe's mom.

Yay! I just got off the phone with my bestest friend - we've known each other since we were 8 - and she has agreed to go to the parade with me! We were chatting about how frustrating the whole gay marriage amendment BS is and it occurred to me that she might want to go, too. I look forward to introducing y'all. She's extremely cool and my almost complete opposite but she has been a soul sister since we met.

Woot!