A week ago Sunday my father passed away. It has been a difficult time around here.

My father had health problems for a long time and was becoming less and less able to get around and function. While I am sorry he is gone, I am very glad that he missed the stage where he lost his dignity. He died peacefully in his sleep and if you've got to go, there are far worse ways to depart.

As exhausting, emotional and difficult this has been, there are some unique things about southern funeral rituals.

My mothers first call was to their long time minister which set into motion a chain of events as controled and powerful as any nuclear reactor.

We had not been home from the hospital and hour when the first of the fried chicken began to arrive.

People that we had not seen in twenty years began to arrive bearing all sorts of offerings: fried chicken, casseroles, hams, cakes, pie and even home made pralines. We haven't had to cook in days which I suppose is the point.

We could not schedule the funeral until the following Thursday which is an unusually long time but it allowed people who lived at a distance more time to arrive.

So from Monday till Thursday we had many, many visitors, phone calls and even more fried chicken.

The funeral was huge. It was easily three hundred people. It was a southern baptist affair featuring old hymns like the Old Rugged Cross and In the Garden.

The graveside service was held in Pop's home town where an honor guard folded the flag, handed it to Mom and a bugler played Taps.

After the funeral I shuttled people to the airport as the extended family went home. Saturday I drove Mom to the coast where we visited relatives.

Sunday was a very hard day, especially for Mom. We sort of stayed close and did very little. Today was busy again: settling up with the funeral home and replacing a dying freezer.

I'm not sure why these things take on such a frantic pace. I suppose it is so you can't get mired in the sadness that goes with loss.

It has been a difficult time and I wish to thank everyone for their messages of support and concern. It may not seem like much but it helps.