All I wanna do is race, daddy.

The problem with having older parents is that they get sick. I know I still owe you a lunch, Key, and I'll get around to that. I had to go out of town right after Thanksgiving because dad got really sick. Stupid cancer. He fought through it, he really wanted to make it to 2010, but... yeah.

I'll really miss my dad. He was the one who always pushed me to do what I wanted, not what was necessarily "expected". Mom was always too scared to watch, but Dad was always there when I was racing near home. I'd take my helmet off and look over and there he'd be, a big smile on his face and a bouquet of flowers in his hands. The day I had my accident, he was there, and he was the first person I saw when I woke up.

And now, just like that, he's gone. Mom was a mess, of course. I wasn't much better, but I held it together somehow. I had to, so she wouldn't totally collapse into nothingness. I mean, in the last few years she's had a daughter barely survive a car accident and have to use a wheelchair, and now this. I decided it'd be better if I stayed down there for a few weeks while we took care of his affairs and made sure everything was straightened out with her. I think she's going to be okay. We sat Shiva together, did a rather muted Hanukkah together and I even stuck around through Christmas so she wouldn't have to eat the traditional Jewish Chinese Christmas dinner alone. But she's still got her friends, so she'll be okay I think.

I'm still trying to get all my thoughts together about dad, and I'll probably post more about him later. Right now I just need to get back to work and get back to living. Maybe I'll get back to work on that... whatever it is in the garage.

Barukh atah Hashem Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, dayan ha-emet. "Blessed are You, Lord, our G-d, King of the universe, the True Judge."

Thanks, Dad.

Henry Charles Cooperstein
May 8, 1943- December 10, 2009

Finally made it back home after spending the weekend in Sunny Florida. Many leftovers and a few new toys in tow. Mom took me shopping on Black Friday. I think she just wanted to use my handicapped tag to get better parking. But she bought me things, which makes me happy.

How was everyone else's holiday?

Got some good work done last night- the latest "thing" is coming together. Although I'm still not sure what it's supposed to be. But it was a nice distraction from the game. Bah. Eagles lost. Not that I'm an Eagles fan, more like a Cowboys hater.

Going to pick up some scrap later, which is awesome. And in even awesomer news, after I posted an ad asking for junk, someone posted about a gallery that might be interested. I don't know if I'm gallery good, but maybe someone who knows what they're talking about will think there's something to it.

Ooh yeah! Cocktail party later this week. Not sure what I should wear- a t-shirt and jeans is probably out, but I don't wear dresses. Especially not cocktail froofy dresses. Maybe I'll just wash what I wore to the failed singles night thing Saturday. Ugh. That was a waste.

More later. There's a Mustang at the shop that needs some TLC. And possibly a new starter.

( The metal will live on. )