Halfway there (more, really)

We are in Sacramento, and halfway recovered from the flight, on which we did not get a lot of sleep this time, for some reason. We were in the middle of the plane, though we did get to sit together (it didn't look like we could when I booked it, but they shifted around easily). A friend drove us from San Francisco to Sacramento, and we all slept 10 or 12 hours last night. Today we accomplished the buying of shoes for everyone, as well as buying a lot of miscellaneous at Target...there is just nothing like Target in New Zealand.

Tomorrow we will be in Kansas, hoping to see snow everywhere but on the roads...

Friday

Yes, it is Friday here already, and we had the memorial service here today. It was held at the university chapel, where Hamilton Friends meet, and was very nice, except for being very hot...I guess we are usually there in the morning, and not in the heat of summer. Anyway, there were about 80 people there, which is more than expected, especially given that half of New Zealand is at the beach right now (possibly more than half). We had a mix of Quakers from Hamilton, a few from Auckland, and two families who where hanging around after Summer Gathering--and also neighbors, the kids' friends, colleagues, students, members of the brain tumor support group. Kiwis are shy, though, and not many spoke in the Meeting; one played "Amazing Grace" on the flute, which was lovely. One Auckland Friend is from Kansas, and she brought sunflowers. The kids had good support from their friends (as did I) and the powerpoint slideshow worked fine, thanks to technical support from the psychology department. As well as my friend Kyle, who figured out how to make the music files work (I don't usually have background music in my lectures...).

I will attach a picture of the Rimu casket with Manford's ashes. Most of them; we have some to bring to Kansas, along with all the necessary legal documenation to make sure we are not smuggling cocaine...

We are looking forward to the Kansas memorial, with people who have known Manford so well and so long. It is confirmed for 2:00 on Sunday, January 16th at the Governor's Row House. We will be arriving in Kansas on Friday evening, and staying about ten days, and then off to Harry Potterland in Orlando. Almost all arrangements made...

Now we are replete with Kiwi comfort food, which is unfortunately not necessarily compatible with my stomach...sausage rolls, bacon and egg pies. lots of them. and then there are asparagus rolls, which are overcooked pieces of asparagus wrapped in a buttered slice of white bread...we have some nice apple cucumbers from our garden, though, and pineapple and various fruit that were cut in inedible ways by the caterers and so were left over...we also have some large flat kind of cake I have not identified, but might be good. But mainly, we have about 20 servings of bacon and egg pie, which only Emily really likes...maybe she will be a Kiwi after all. She also likes meat pies (mince and cheese). Not fish and chips, though.

Busy Days

The last two days have been filled with friends helping, and more food than we can eat, and we are making progress. We will have a memorial service here in Hamilton on Friday, Jan 7 at 2:00 at the University Chapel (which is where our Meeting meets). Then next week the kids and I will fly to the US, and it looks like we will be having a memorial service at the Governor's Row House (ok, this is only 97% confirmed, but I will say if it is different) at 2:00 on Sunday, January 16th. Where we got married, for those who are old enough to remember.

We will hang around Kansas about a week, hoping for snow, and then fly to Florida to visit Diagon Alley and Hogwarts and whatever we can find, then back to Sacramento to grandma, before slipping back to New Zealand in time for the kids to start school at the beginning of February.

Right now I am wearing out our poor little netbook trying to make all these reservations and preparations and so on.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, again and again.
Carrie

Manford died at 5:55 this evening, while we were gathered around him singing ("In the Garden"). Joseph and Emily were here and are doing well; Joseph has gone back up to the summer gathering to be with friends there and say good-bye (it ends tomorrow), but he is coming home tonight, and Emily and I are about to go to sleep, at last.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers; we know you have been with us.

Manford is in a coma now and they think it is a matter of hours. Please hold us in the light.

Happy 1/1/11!

It's actually 2/1/11 here, now, but I enjoyed yesterday not worrying about which way the month and day go. I still have to think about it, especially in the potentially ambiguous first part of each month...

The kids are still at Quaker Gathering, but will come down for a visit this morning, both to see Manford, who is fading a bit, and to try to solve the Sirius problem...I can't remember if I wrote about his escape from his frontyard pen on Wednesday. I don't know how he got out; I managed to tempt him with a particularly juicy piece of grass, but that was after 10 minutes of running around the yard...I hope they can observe him and see what he tries, because he has been missing some lovely days in solitary confinement in his indoor hutch.

Manford has been struggling with another urinary tract infection, and has been awake mainly only when it hurts the last 24 hours. They have increased his morphine, and he seemed to be sleeping comfortably most of the time, but he hasn't eaten anything or drunk much since Friday (2 days ago). I am learning many new skills I hope will never come in handy again...but have many friends, Friends, and professionals helping.

I had a nice talk with Sue and John Wine in Topeka yesterday, and heard it was almost as warm there as here a couple of days ago. The kids will be disappointed to hear that...they think it is always all snowy winter idyllic there now...it is summer idyllic here now, high of maybe 80, with a nice breeze.

Happy New Year!
Carrie