Goodbye, You Great Man.

While in Panama this week, I received a phone call on Thursday the 9th of February.  My co-worker/friend of 14 years called to inform me that my former father-in-law and Jacob's grandfather had passed away from cancer at 2:30 a.m.  My co-worker received a call from Jacob's dad, who knew I was out of the country (my voice mail told him I was out of the country so he called my work) and wanted my co-worker to to pass the message to me in Panama.  He kept apologizing over and over as he heard my tears over the phone line, "I'm sorry, Kaaren. I'm sorry to have to tell you this."

Class 28 of 1959, MARCAD.

I am so glad Jacob got to see him a little under 2 weeks ago.


(I was going to title this "Goodbye, You Great WOP" but thought better of it because people might not understand the joking Al and I used to do to each other.  He'd rip me about being Hispanic and I'd rip him about being Italian.  I assure you, we were politically incorrect with each other and could not give a fig.  His kids would gasp as he would make a Puerto Rican joke, and then I'd counter with an Italian one and make him crack up.)