All Souls Day

It's Halloween, but my mind is on All Souls Day, two days from now (Nov. 2).

I haven't written much about my Dad's passing and my associated grief. I'm not sure why - it certainly occupies my thoughts. Maybe it's just a relief to write about something else to get my mind off it. I feel like there is still a lot to process, particularly the heartbreak of seeing him go through months of difficult and ultimately fruitless chemotherapy. He was so darn hopeful and patient the whole time. He was only hoping for a extra few months to enjoy life a bit -- just to be able to do something simple like go out to dinner and spend time with friends and family. So of course it feels terribly unfair, but then who said life was fair.

My Dad's church will be recognizing All Souls Day this Sunday, and will ring the church bells for each member of the congregation that passed away in the past year, including my Dad.