THE END GAME AND A COUPLE OF WOO-WOOS

Last night at dinner, I glanced out the window and noticed two cardinals - a male and female. They sat on our fence for the longest time... Then the female flew off into the palm. The male quickly followed. Cardinals, in folklore, are said to be visits from the spirit world. I wondered if my parents had stopped by to say hello.
My dad passed away Saturday night. Once I gave him his options, it was if he said "I'm outta here." He started seeing people within the hour. "Who is this guy ?" he asked me, pointing to no one. Then a little later, he looked up at the ceiling and said, "Hey ! do you see her ?! She's beautiful !"
This made me smile through tears. His steadfast, loving guardians were there surrounding their devoted servant - and me !
We spent the afternoon holding hands, sometimes breaking up the waiting by watching TCM - old black and white movies. As the day grew into night, I said, "Dad, I'm going to leave." He grabbed my hand and in a loud, firm voice replied, "NO. STAY." So unlike him...
So I did. For a bit.
Then, because I had dinner reservations with my husband and his family, I said, "Dad, I'm supposed to meet Stephen for dinner, so I'm going to go."
He brightened. "Oh wonderful !" he said. "Go !"
I promised to be back in the morning, kissed him told him I loved him and wished him a goodnight.
My phone was on mute in the hospital and in the restaurant and I forgot to turn it back on when I got home. Sunday morning my phone was lighted like a Christmas tree. He died around 9 p.m.
I was devastated. Crumbled in a heap. Dripping tears now. What a love we had... What love REMAINS.
Sunday my husband and I went to Dad's apartment to remove valuables - bills to be paid, important papers, etc. Dad's best friend had told me that Dad had a surprise for me in his lock box. That I would not BELIEVE what he'd left !
He was RIGHT. Imagine finding a treasure chest with a note saying "WOW ! SURPRISE ! SOMETHING FOR DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL !"
More tears ! Tender, loving tears as I basked in the playfulness of our deep connection.
And then~using his bathroom before I left, I noticed a light. His bathroom scale suddenly lit up with double zeros !!! He was finally weightless !!! He didn't have to weigh his fluid filled body anymore !!! YAY !!!!!
The next few days will be busy ones - family arriving, calls to be made, papers, papers. But I'm looking forward to it all. It feels like I'm tying up the loose ends of a big, beautiful quilt that WE made !! And it will keep me and many others warm for generations to come.