I wish I had good news to report, but October's not playing out well either.
It's with deep sadness, that I publicly announce that my beloved Father suffered a cardiac arrest on last Saturday evening, sometime around 9:10 or so. While the paramedics arrived quickly, they couldn't get a good solid rhythm in his heart for some 6+ minutes after they had arrived (3 minutes after his breathing had stopped)- this means he was anoxic (I used to make jokes about holding one's breath and Anoxia being a hell of a way to go- I doubt I'll ever do that again...) for some 9 or so minutes. We just pulled him off the ventilator last night after determining that there was no possibility of any substantive recovery from the coma he was in- he has not passed on yet, but it's only a matter of time. I have the joy of stating that we DID have a good relationship and his last two weeks of what was his normal life was a happy time. He had all of his immediate family present and spending the entire day with him on his 62nd birthday. He spent the entire following week with his grandchild (my nephew...) and his wife. His last day was spent tinkering around with the various and sundry stuff he'd accumulated over the years and having fun and laughter with his wife while watching Trading Spaces on TV. When he actually passes, I think I'll be putting up a memorial page on my website- whether or not anyone cares, I think everyone ought to know a little more about one of the men that helped make me who and what I am in this day and age.
Cherish the time you have on this earth with the people you love and care about- life's far, far too short to be spent merely existing. Plan for the future, but live for the moment.