this entry brought to you by family rants

It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live. There is but one reasonable explanation of it. The intellect is stunned by the shock and but gropingly gathers the meaning of the words. The power to realize their full import is mercifully lacking.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography (on Suzy Clemen's death)

Well, I still don't know when/where any of the arrangements are. It's almost typical by this point, as my brother and I still remain the outcasts in this family and the communication systems always seem to bog down the worst here.

I'm sorry, but after eighteen years of this behaviour, things are a little old. I understand that this family is really dysfunctional, but, for once, could we all just flippin' get along and try to understand that it's a situation that everyone is hurting over? It's not that hard. Besides, there are enough family members with the knowledge of the events that happened nearly two decades ago.

I would be over it, but it's really hard to be when after the divorce was finalised, everyone scattered like rats from the sewer. At least, that's what it felt like. And, as a result of this, the only cousin I feel relatively close to is the eldest one, Matt, but we've got a few more years on everyone else, and even then I don't get a chance to talk to him often. Hell, I'm closer to my mother's family than I am to my father's. It's not something I necessarily agree with. Granted, there's five of you and two of them, but good Lord, people! How hard is it to send a Christmas card to let us know that you still care? I really resent the fact that instead of family reunions, we have funerals. Not cool.

Osts, you need to step up. You need to realise that what you've done for the past fifty years isn't working. Learn to take control of the situation, even in your grief, and move ahead. I'm grieving. We're all grieving. However, we need to come together as a family, and support each other. After all, what a family is supposed to do.

It's what Grandpa would have wanted.

this entry brought to you by family rants

It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live. There is but one reasonable explanation of it. The intellect is stunned by the shock and but gropingly gathers the meaning of the words. The power to realize their full import is mercifully lacking.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography (on Suzy Clemen's death)

Well, I still don't know when/where any of the arrangements are. It's almost typical by this point, as my brother and I still remain the outcasts in this family and the communication systems always seem to bog down the worst here.

I'm sorry, but after eighteen years of this behaviour, things are a little old. I understand that this family is really dysfunctional, but, for once, could we all just flippin' get along and try to understand that it's a situation that everyone is hurting over? It's not that hard. Besides, there are enough family members with the knowledge of the events that happened nearly two decades ago.

I would be over it, but it's really hard to be when after the divorce was finalised, everyone scattered like rats from the sewer. At least, that's what it felt like. And, as a result of this, the only cousin I feel relatively close to is the eldest one, Matt, but we've got a few more years on everyone else, and even then I don't get a chance to talk to him often. Hell, I'm closer to my mother's family than I am to my father's. It's not something I necessarily agree with. Granted, there's five of you and two of them, but good Lord, people! How hard is it to send a Christmas card to let us know that you still care? I really resent the fact that instead of family reunions, we have funerals. Not cool.

Osts, you need to step up. You need to realise that what you've done for the past fifty years isn't working. Learn to take control of the situation, even in your grief, and move ahead. I'm grieving. We're all grieving. However, we need to come together as a family, and support each other. After all, what a family is supposed to do.

It's what Grandpa would have wanted.

(no subject)

I am 73% Psychic

I can accurately predict whether someone: likes cheese likes puppies is wearing socks I cannot tell whether someone: has a cat watches soap operas forwards e-mail jokes

See what my psychic predicted for me! Take the quiz and get predictions at Spacefem.com

(no subject)

I am 73% Psychic

I can accurately predict whether someone: likes cheese likes puppies is wearing socks I cannot tell whether someone: has a cat watches soap operas forwards e-mail jokes

See what my psychic predicted for me! Take the quiz and get predictions at Spacefem.com

Grandpa's obituary

November 14, 1926 - November 18, 2007

Richard James “Dick” Ost, husband, father, and over 25 year resident of Colorado Springs, CO, died on November 18, 2007. A funeral service will be held at Shrine of Remembrance at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Ost was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 14, 1926. He served his country as an Electrician’s Mate in the Pacific theater during World War II and was honorably discharged in June 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, he studied engineering at the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. After serving a four-year apprenticeship in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Mr. Ost was recognized as a Class A Journeyman. He was a member of Local Union #124 of the IBEW since 1950. Mr. Ost enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, designing and supervising the construction of numerous power plants in the U.S.
Mr. Ost was recognized as a Senior and Life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4051, a member of the National Rifle Association and a certified NRA Instructor for Personal Protection and for pistols and revolvers. He was also a member of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America.

As a youth, Mr. Ost was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout/Mic-o-Say. He was actively involved with the Scouts as a leader with his sons’ troops and with Scout Headquarters in Kansas City. He was an avid swimmer and tennis player.

On October 7, 1950, Mr. Ost married Mary Catherine Duggins, and to this union, seven children were born. Mr. Ost was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William, a daughter, Theresa and son, Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Colorado Springs, daughters Catherine (Hamilton) Kirkland, Shawnee, KS and Rose Anne Ost, Colorado Springs; daughter-in-law, Lisa Ost, Linn, KS; and by sons Stephen, Roeland Park, KS; Edward (Sheila), Overland Park, KS and Paul, Denver, and by close family friend Will Biles. Mr. Ost also leaves eight grandchildren: Matthew and Alexander Kirkland, Rachel and Jacob Ost, Natalie and Nicole Ost and Nicholas and Samantha Ost.

Surviving brothers are Jack (Genevieve) Ost of Pompton Plains, NJ; Mark (Carole) Ost of Pineville, Missouri; sister, Patricia (Frank) Regan of O’Fallon, Missouri and sister-in-law Patricia Ost of Kearney, Mo. Also to miss him are many nephews and nieces.

Mr. Ost was locally known as a “Curmudgeon at Large” and took great delight in making people smile and laugh every day with his enormous repertoire of humorous stories and anecdotes. He had a great love of the writings of Mark Twain. He did not suffer fools lightly, but was a protector of the elderly and weak.

The family requests no flowers, and instead suggests memorial donations to Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3624, or Care and Share Food Bank, 2520 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916.

Grandpa's obituary

November 14, 1926 - November 18, 2007

Richard James “Dick” Ost, husband, father, and over 25 year resident of Colorado Springs, CO, died on November 18, 2007. A funeral service will be held at Shrine of Remembrance at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Ost was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 14, 1926. He served his country as an Electrician’s Mate in the Pacific theater during World War II and was honorably discharged in June 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, he studied engineering at the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. After serving a four-year apprenticeship in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Mr. Ost was recognized as a Class A Journeyman. He was a member of Local Union #124 of the IBEW since 1950. Mr. Ost enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, designing and supervising the construction of numerous power plants in the U.S.
Mr. Ost was recognized as a Senior and Life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4051, a member of the National Rifle Association and a certified NRA Instructor for Personal Protection and for pistols and revolvers. He was also a member of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America.

As a youth, Mr. Ost was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout/Mic-o-Say. He was actively involved with the Scouts as a leader with his sons’ troops and with Scout Headquarters in Kansas City. He was an avid swimmer and tennis player.

On October 7, 1950, Mr. Ost married Mary Catherine Duggins, and to this union, seven children were born. Mr. Ost was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William, a daughter, Theresa and son, Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Colorado Springs, daughters Catherine (Hamilton) Kirkland, Shawnee, KS and Rose Anne Ost, Colorado Springs; daughter-in-law, Lisa Ost, Linn, KS; and by sons Stephen, Roeland Park, KS; Edward (Sheila), Overland Park, KS and Paul, Denver, and by close family friend Will Biles. Mr. Ost also leaves eight grandchildren: Matthew and Alexander Kirkland, Rachel and Jacob Ost, Natalie and Nicole Ost and Nicholas and Samantha Ost.

Surviving brothers are Jack (Genevieve) Ost of Pompton Plains, NJ; Mark (Carole) Ost of Pineville, Missouri; sister, Patricia (Frank) Regan of O’Fallon, Missouri and sister-in-law Patricia Ost of Kearney, Mo. Also to miss him are many nephews and nieces.

Mr. Ost was locally known as a “Curmudgeon at Large” and took great delight in making people smile and laugh every day with his enormous repertoire of humorous stories and anecdotes. He had a great love of the writings of Mark Twain. He did not suffer fools lightly, but was a protector of the elderly and weak.

The family requests no flowers, and instead suggests memorial donations to Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3624, or Care and Share Food Bank, 2520 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916.

SNAFU avoided?

In reading the obituary, I got very angry, as I'm missing the services in Colorado...and not thinking that "hey, there should be more services in KC." I'm a little scatterbrained right now.

Anyway, I panicked, called home a gajillion times (thanks for asking the right questions, rogh_sensei and Tina), and then called my Aunt Rose, who has all of the right answers in this case (she would...she's the executor of the will, I believe), and we talked a bit about how Grandpa wouldn't want us to worry about things, as God will take care of them.

In short, "consider the lilies of the field." God has a funny way of making His truths known, even in these nasty-stressful situations.

Meanwhile, my maternal grandmother told me about something that Grandpa had told her when my maternal grandfather passed away, and she told my brother the same thing. "We do not grieve the death. We celebrate the life."

I'm still struggling with the difference in grieving and celebrating, but I'm getting better.

I'll be packing for the upcoming weekend soon, and while I'm still not in a place of comfort, at least emotionally speaking, but every day is a step in the right direction.

Grandpa, you've touched my life in amazing ways, and I will always hold you in my heart.

SNAFU avoided?

In reading the obituary, I got very angry, as I'm missing the services in Colorado...and not thinking that "hey, there should be more services in KC." I'm a little scatterbrained right now.

Anyway, I panicked, called home a gajillion times (thanks for asking the right questions, rogh_sensei and Tina), and then called my Aunt Rose, who has all of the right answers in this case (she would...she's the executor of the will, I believe), and we talked a bit about how Grandpa wouldn't want us to worry about things, as God will take care of them.

In short, "consider the lilies of the field." God has a funny way of making His truths known, even in these nasty-stressful situations.

Meanwhile, my maternal grandmother told me about something that Grandpa had told her when my maternal grandfather passed away, and she told my brother the same thing. "We do not grieve the death. We celebrate the life."

I'm still struggling with the difference in grieving and celebrating, but I'm getting better.

I'll be packing for the upcoming weekend soon, and while I'm still not in a place of comfort, at least emotionally speaking, but every day is a step in the right direction.

Grandpa, you've touched my life in amazing ways, and I will always hold you in my heart.