Fair Winds and Following Seas

David Long died tonight. Caleb, my adopted little bro, my anchor for so much of the time when Sam and my dad were sick and after they died, is standing where I was almost three years ago, minus a father.

I was at Dan's premiere and got the call, and spent the rest of the night among friends, toasting the life of an amazing man. I don't mind admitting I have an entire brigade of Highlanders drinking ale and cavorting in my stomach right now - right where they damn well should be.

Because I never went to the hospital to view my father's body, this was an opportunity to look upon a father figure in repose, and to witness the guys come to pack him up (just like Samantha). David died at home in a hospice bed, just like Samantha. It was gentle and peaceful for him, and he was surrounded by longtime friends and family. It was a sort of closure for my own parental cancer death experience.

I received another emotional kick in the nuts tonight, but I need to discuss it with the parties involved before I go into detail here. Now I need to go tell the drunken Scots to disperse.

Ahoy, Captain Long. Fair Winds and Following Seas. And may ye get to Heaven 'fore the Devil knows ye're dead.