Remember my mom and dad?
They are 800 miles away from me.
Right now, he’s lying in the ICU, unresponsive from a stroke this morning.
Right now, she’s alone in a waiting room, trying to be strong.
800 miles is such a goddamn long ways away.
I’m catching a flight down there to … well, I don’t know. Something. Anything.
I’m 43 years old and have never lost anyone close to me.
I don’t want to start now.
I’d like to ask that you think good thoughts for my mom and dad and, if you’re so inclined, to please pray.
Pray that my family can get through this, whatever may happen.
That my stupid fear of flying and driving will take a hiatus and allow me to get down there without a panic attack.
That Nate will feed the girls something other than McDonalds and frozen pizza while I’m gone.
That Oliver’s bladder and bowels will behave themselves until I get back. Even afterward, maybe.
That I get a chance to say I Love You to my dad one more time.
Because I can’t remember if I said it the last time I spoke with him.
I think I did but I’m not sure and that uncertainty is haunting me.
No one can rock the Statue of Liberty like my dad.
I’ll be away for a bit.
.
.
65 thoughts on “Leaving on a jet plane”
saying a prayer right now…
Love and prayers…
Sending you all the positive thoughts and prayers I can muster. Please let me know if you need ANYTHING at all. ((HUGS))
Sending up prayers for you, your flight, your family and your parents. *hugs*
Andy, you’ll do just fine. Just focus on strong thoughts for your Dad… I’m sending my best healing vibes too! Big hugs!!!
Love.you.so.much.
Will be praying for your dad and you and your family.
Oh, Andi – I just saw this on Facebook – hugs and prayers going out to you!
Oh Andy I hope it all goes well. Sending Love and Prayers for all the above.
Oh I’m so sorry! I hope you are able to get there quickly and be a comfort to your mom and to see your dad when he comes around. I pray he’s fine!!
My thoughts are with you and your family. Safe travels.
My dad is fighting for his life also. I do know the heartache. My prayers are with you and your family.
*hug* You and yours are in my prayers
I just saw Kristin’s post on FB which got me here (first time I’ve been at my computer – or home – all day). If there is ANYTHING you need, just say the word – don’t know if you’ve left yet but I’m good for a ride to/from the airport if Nate can’t do it, etc. We’d even Oliver-sit if you need it. Just say the word okay?
Prayers being said and I’m adding you, your dad and family to every prayer chain I know.
((hugs))
My prayers are with you and your family Andrea <3<3<3<3 Deep breaths. Inhale love exhale fear. Inhale love, exhale fear……
Safe travels to you and healing thoughts for your dad. Hang in there!
Andrea,
I will say a prayer for you and your family. I pray that God looks after you and all your loved ones. That your mom stays strong, that your journey is quick and peaceful, that your dad pulls through, and that you have peace. He *knows* you love him, Andy.
You’ll be in my thoughts.
Praying. Praying for comfort for your dad and your mom. Praying for your comfort in being so far away and that God will help you be where you need to be right now.
My prayers to all of you.
{{Andi}} Sending LOTS of positive thoughts and prayers, Ruth
Hugs to you and your family. I think we now see where you get your great sense of humor from.
hope all is well with your travels and he recovers quickly. So sorry to hear all this Andy 🙁
Sending you prayers, good karma and happy thoughts. I’m so sorry. I hope he’s on the road to recovery soon!!
Of course my prayer are with you and your family.
sending you positive thoughts and prayers. And maybe a virtual hug too.
More prayers here – and hugs too
Thinking of you, your parents, and your brother; I will, indeed, say a prayer for you. Please keep us posted.
Sending light an love and prayers for you and your family.
I’ll be sending my thoughts along with everyone else’s prayers! It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?!
Oh Andy, I’m so very, very sorry. Strokes are so awful. I’m so sorry. Jill
Oh no! Hope everything turns out ok!
Sending love, prayers, hugs and other warm fuzzies your way. Try not to stress about everything at home and just be in the moment with your mum, brother and of course, dad.
oh no…oh andy i’m soo sorry. PLEASE PLEASE e-mail me as soon as you can to update. I’ll be working through Wednesday night but after that I PROMISE I will be here. I’m saying a prayer..
(((hugs)))
shedding some tears for you and your. cant help it :O( good luck with your journey(s) and I hope you get to say it out loud again.
hugs and prayers for you and your family
Oh, I’m so sorry and saying a prayer for you, your father and your mother right now.
Dont let uncertainty harm you now, you know in your heart that your father knows you love him, Im praying for you and him
I am so sorry. Hoping and praying that everything will be okay with your daddy!! HUGS.
Love and prayers being said for you, your family, the pilot, the other drivers and your Dad.
Stay strong, Andy, no matter what the outcome.
Don’t know when I’ll be back again……oh babe…I hate to go….
I am sending much love and light your way. Much love and light and healing to your dad.
I lost my dad in July in a horrid traffic accident. I am glad that every time he called me, even if just for a phone number, I said “love you dad!” he would always get all embarrassed and say “I love you, too”.
I believe your dad will be come through this!!
I’m so sorry to hear this! You guys will be in my thoughts!
Sending love, wishes and well good luck with NO Panic attacks, feel ya there! You can do this and you can make it down to say I love you to your Dad and be there in this time for your Mom and Dad! ((HUGS))
You all will make it through this, some how, some way!
Hugs and prayers, Andy.
I’m so sorry. My prayers you are there with a minimum of trouble, and that your beloved dad recovers.
Many prayers…
Praying for you and your family.
Safe travels. I hope you get the chance to say “I love you” one more time. It’s nice to know for sure you said it one last time. I hope for your sake your dad pulls through. Otherwise, your mom may be calling you more often to ask you why your brother isn’t married yet. (Humor is my coping mechanism) (((HUGS)))
Praying for you and your family.
Praying for you and your family!
I just saw this Andrea. I am SO sorry, sweetie. Sending up prayers right now, and I will continue to pray. Hang in there. I lost my dad to cancer in 1996, so I know how awful it is. However, people DO make full recoveries from strokes nowadays. the Patricia Neal center in Knoxville is a great place for stroke patients, if you can get him there.
Hugs,
Dee
Heaps of good thoughts, coming your way.
Prayers and hope your dad recovers quickly. I wouldn’t mention that you shared that pic of him on the internet although he has about the sexiest legs that I’ve ever seen on a man his age. God bless him.
have a safe flight
Keeping you and your family in my thoughts during this difficult time. *huge hugs*
Thinking good thoughts Andy – take care (((HUGS)))
I am so sorry to hear this, I hope your trip is safe and that your family has all the support they need.
Thinking of you.
You have my thoughts and prayers. I hope he recovers soon! **hugs**
You are wonderful and beautiful and I’m failing miserably at hosting CML tonight. I wish you could be here and that everything was okay. Sending you lots of prayers sweetie.
Good thoughts!
Missed seeing you on the chat tonight and now know why.
So sorry to hear about your dad. I empathize with you. I was here in Chicago and my dad was in Canada (Maritimes to be more precise). It was very hard and I did make it back.
Thinking and praying for you tonight.
hope your dad gets better 🙂
Hugs friend! I’m not ready for somethign like that either.
My prayers are with you. If you need anything, just let me know.
Sending hugs and prayers your way. I’d blow you kisses too, but the weather here in California is shite and I’m worried they’d be blown in the wrong direction. And then there’d be some serial killer in, like, Nevada getting my kisses and that would be just plain wrong.
Andy – you did say I Love You the last time – even if you didn’t’ verbalize it. He knows.
Prayers and thoughts.
Stan at Scrappers Workshop
My heart hurts for you Zoe. I can only say that you are an energetic, fun and lonivg person (even though we have never met in “real” life) but I enjoy reading your blog adventures and tweets. Your parents must have been amazing people since you are a representation of them and they now live on through you. I have been praying for you and will continue to pray for you. May God restore joy in your life and help you through this hard time.