Sad News

Greetings everyone,

As many of you already have heard, Eliza's father passed away two weeks ago. We were in the undeveloped parts of the southern Bahamas, no internet, no cell service, and only the one other boat we were traveling with ... However, Eliza's cousin was able to get a message out on different SSB cruising networks, and we got the news in time to get back to Pittsburgh and be there for the wake and funeral. It was an emotional time with lots of tears and hugs and stories and even laughter. The variety of people and the distances they travel really speaks to how much we all valued and love Bill/Grappy.

Eliza has stayed on in Pittsburgh to help her mom and will join us in Georgetown, Great Exuma, in the Bahamas.

The kids are all working on great blog entries to illuminate the adventures we have had since the DR. We hope to post them later this week.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers you have shared with us.

Peace,
Peter

Catherine wrote a thoughtful and heartfelt piece about my dad that she read to us at the funeral. I want to share it with all of you who have been following us this year.

My Grappy

My Grappy is the man who I beat only once in hearts,
My Grappy is the man with tricky clues for password,
My Grappy is the man who wouldn't let me near the dishes,
My Grappy is the man who had a crossword and pencil in hand.

My Grappy is the one who owned the kitchen,
My Grappy is the one who turned tour guide for Josie and me,
My Grappy is the one with a heart for sports and a head for words,
My Grappy is the one who deemed every mother 'Mother dearest love of my life'.

My Grappy rode the incline with me,
My Grappy went to Steelers games , twice with me,
My Grappy played cards with me,
My Grappy will always be with me.

My Grappy is with God now, I hope He can play Oh Heck,
My Grappy is gone now, in being but him I will never forget,
My Grappy gave me precious memories,
My Grappy made the world a better place not only for me.

My Grappy must be remembered,
My Grappy deserves to be honored,
My Grappy must be shared, because,
My Grappy gave me happiness as I hope he did for you.

So to keep My Grappy alive try to be like him,
Give someone what he gave me,
Love, Life, Happiness and most of all memories,
I love My Grappy and I think he loved me.

My Grappy will be alive in me always,
Find your Grappy and make him a home in your soul,
Grappy's soul left his body and now we can make room for that soul in ourselves,
Grappy lives on in everyone who loves him.

My Grappy is at peace,
My Grappy is in me,
My Grappy is mine alone,
My Grappy is loved.

--Catherine

(There should be no size difference in the text. I messed up and can't figure it out.)