You Never Know

I haven't done much blogging lately. On February 18 at around 10 in the morning, my dad Bryce Mercier succumbed to pancreatic cancer. It was not unexpected, but a little sooner than I anticipated.
On Wednesday we held his funeral at the Tribal Gymnasium in Grand Ronde. On Thursday there were graveside services in Newberg, a smaller and more intimate setting for those who knew him well. I think he would have been happy to see the turnout on Wednesday. There were quite a few friends of his from way back, probably before I was even born.
A number people spoke, though my own speech was probably the longest. I admitted to not having had much of a relationship with him throughout his life. We weren't complete strangers, but without a doubt neither of us would have been able to put together a one-page biography of the other. I took the opportunity to get up on my soapbox and explain how far too often in our lives we let relationships fall to the wayside, and it's not always clear why. Some go sour for reasons that are legitimate, but more often than not, be it some long-running feud, a grudge, or a lost phone number, there are seldom good reasons to say to ourselves "I'm never talking to that person again". Relationships are, I said, what nourish the soul.
My brother and I both for the first time met our half-brother Damian, who has resided in Houston almost his entire life. We also met our uncle Mike, who has carved out a life in Alaska the last few decades. It's odd, but back in the days when the Election Board would allow us access to the mailing list, I can remember looking at their names on the label sheets, and pausing.
Most everyone who I see on a regular basis is aware that my dad and I had a relationship which was different from that of most father-sons. But that hasn't stopped all the condolences from pouring in, via email, Facebook, phone calls, cards, face-to-face. One group of people sent me a potted plant larger than any other I have. People seem to recognize regardless of the relationship, losing one's parents is always that, a loss. It's never easy.
The good that has come of it is the opportunity to renew old relationships, and start new ones. You never know. I chose those three words, because a blogger whom I follow on a regular basis says it's never a bad thing when those three words are involved. I tend to agree.