Heaven Looks Like Lafayette?

Last night, I dreamed about my dad who passed away in 2009.  It wasn't one of those dreams where it feels like a visitation.  It was just a crazy dream.  However, my mouse did stop working when I began to type this post, so who knows?

I was in the kitchen of a house I had never been in before when Tim Romero (an old classmate who wasn't even a very close friend of mine, so I don't know why he was in the dream) came in and said, "Hey, Laurie.  Your dad is in the living room."

I said, "That's weird!  I didn't think I'd be able to talk to him again so soon!"

Dad came into the kitchen and he had a small black mustache.  I asked, "Dad, what are you doing here?"

"I got tired of working all those double shifts," he said. "So, I'm living in Lafayette and have another family."

"Hmmmm," I said.  "Does mom know?"

"Sure, she knows.  She was in on it," dad said.

So, I guess heaven looks a lot like Lafayette?  With another family?  Good luck with that, dad, because I'm sure they won't be nearly as fun as we were.  Tell them your first oldest daughter says, "Hey."

A Little More Dad Weirdness

As mentioned below, today's my dad's birthday.  This morning, I had a piece of junk mail from the e-mail address "rolex @ clownlicense . com".  Thanks for the "hello" this morning, dad.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I heard this song the other day and it made me think of my dad. I'm not sure why except that he was a magician and he loved music and he loved to dance. The lyrics just seem to fit, you know?

Happy Birthday, Dad! Love you.

Another Strange Nudge From Our Dad

My brother called me last night with an unbelievable story.  I told him to write it down and e-mail it to me.  This is my brother's story of his father's day message from dad...

"Back in the '70s, my Dad did a bit of traveling as Ronald McDonald. Thirty-five or so years ago, he came home from a trip and had an autograph he wanted to give me. The autograph was from Jethro Pugh. At that time, Jethro Pugh was a star defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, "America’s Team" and my favorite team, still is. I took that autograph and proudly tacked it on the bulletin board in my bedroom. That autograph hung on my bedroom wall for 15 years or so.

A few weeks ago I had to plan a trip to New Orleans. I booked the trip myself. I normally use the corporate travel agency, but was given the chance to choose my own seat. I like sitting near the wing and by the window. However, on this flight the only seat I could choose in the area of the wing was a center seat, row 16 seat D.

After boarding the flight I saw a tall gentleman coming toward my row. He fell into the seat and said, “It's hell gettin’ old.” My reply? “Amen, brother.” We started having the usual airplane conversations. “Are you from New Orleans?” He said, “Nope, Dallas.” I asked, “Why were you in New Orleans?” He replied, “Airport retailing conference.” He continued, “I own a few shops in the Dallas airport.” Being cordial I asked which ones. He listed about four or five shops. The first he mentioned was Jethro Pugh’s.

My first thought was, no flippin’ way am I sitting on an airplane next to the same guy my dad sat next to nearly 40 years ago. So, I questioned him a bit more. I asked him how he got involved with Jethro Pugh. He told me that some friends convinced him that owning shops in the Dallas airport would be a good business investment. I then asked the big question: “What’s your name?” He, of course, replied, “Jethro Pugh.”

I shared my story with him about my dad and the autograph he had given him thirty or so years ago and he thought it was funny. “Small world,” he said. We talked about the Cowboys back in the “America’s Team” days and he told me that when the Cowboys traveled to New Orleans for two Super Bowls, coach Tom Landry would tell the players, “The French Quarter is off limits.”  Jethro Pugh seems to be a great guy and it was a joy meeting him.

Mr. Pugh also shared with me that he wasn't even supposed to be on my flight, but that he had left the conference early.  And, ended up on this particular flight...sitting next to me...next to my seat...a seat that I had personally picked weeks ago.

My thoughts, of course, are that dad set all this up. How else do you explain it? How could I end up sitting on a plane next to one of the greatest Dallas Cowboys that ever played the game and who my dad had also sat by forty years ago? Did I mention that it was two days after Fathers Day? Coincidence? Not in a million years.

God is great and thanks, Dad. You never cease to amaze us.

If you read this blog, you know about the photo that showed up in the Beaumont paper the day before Fathers Day.  It wasn't actually dad, but it sure looked like him. Can’t wait to see what’s next."

Stu also had this to add about some restaurants he ate at while in New Orleans...

"Coops Bar - on Decatur next to Margaritaville - Cajun/Creole - Some of the best I have ever had. And, I have had a lot. Allegedly, they are famous for their fried chicken.  However, I just don’t have the heart to pass up the Jambalaya Deluxe: tasso, shrimp, crawfish, chicken and sausage.

Stanley Café – northeast corner of Jackson Square across from St. Louis Cathedral. “Breaux Bridge Benedict” - you will never look at breakfast the same way again. French bread, boudin, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce…add a little Cajun Chef hot sauce….OMG. Can’t wait to get back."

You may or may not think this is weird...

I receive the Beaumont Enterprise online.  Today, Father's Day, I read Saturday's edition.  This is the picture that was on the front page of the Saturday Beaumont Enterprise.  To me, the guy hydrating in the top half of the article looks just like my dad...

This is a picture of my dad taken after he cut the grass one day shortly after it rained, because dad always had to do things right away and patience was not one of his virtues...

You might not see the resemblence, but I sure do.  Happy Father's day, dad, and thanks for the weird.  You know how much I love the weird.

Ru's New Dog Sally with Ava

My mom, also known as "Ru" to Ava, has a new puppy. It's a French Bulldog named Sally. Sally has a pouty face like dad used to get when something annoyed him and she sits in dad's chair, snores, farts and follows mom everywhere. Mom says it's sort of like having a little bit of dad back.

Dad and Gabby

Tonight, I received this amazing e-mail from a student that dad taught and befriended at Hughen School in Port Arthur:

Dear Laurie,

I just learned from a friend of mine about the passing of your dad a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to express my condolences and sympathy for you and your family. I know that a great man like him is being greatly missed.

My name is Gabriel.....aka...your dad knew me as Gabby.

I am a former student of The Hughen School where I had the pleasure of knowing your dad from 1974 - 1983 when I graduated from High School and moved away to college. I was the first student to take swimming lessons from your dad when he first started the classes there, and kept attending the weekly two-hour swimming time every time he'd show up even after I had already learned to swim just because I really enjoyed "hanging out" with him.

Looking back on those years I can recollect the times when he always would do tricks and jokes to keep us laughing, while at the same time he would be teaching us not to be afraid of the water and swim...but most importantly he also taught us not to be afraid of trying new things, and to never give up even though we had the odds stacked against us just because we were supposed to be "handicapped".

And so I wanted to share with you the fact that I give a lot of credit to the success in my life to some of the lessons I learned from your dad during the times that I had the pleasure of being with him.

At the Hughen School we used to have a Drama Club where we would put on a full production play twice a year. It was in one of those plays that one time I had the honor of acting the role of a clown....and I remember your dad showing up for our two performances (Friday after noon & Saturday night) one hour before curtain time just to help me put on my clown make-up....and such is the memory I hold of your dad as the picture I am attaching with this e-mail to share with you and his days at the Hughen School.

That was the Mr. Red I honor in this message.

My sincere love to you and your family.

Gabby..... :-D

If you would like to find out more about Gabby you can visit:
Click here (online version of Gabby's book)
Click here (http://www.ifican-youcan.com/)
Click here (http://www.smilemyway.com/)
Click here (http://www.successfulcourage.com/)

The Nature of Bubbles

For those of you who don’t know, our family has lost two dear cousins and my dad this year. My dad passed away only two weeks ago. People ask how we’re doing and it’s a difficult question to ask and a difficult question to answer. We have a large extended family who are all sharing the same emotions right now which helps. We also all have wonderful networks of friends and co-workers who are always nearby for love and support.

The exhaustion and worry our whole family experienced over the past year with Ray, Alan and my dad’s illnesses, are now replaced not only by sadness for those who are no longer with us, but also with a new closeness to our loved ones. We were already a tight knit clan…cousins, aunts, uncles, lifelong friends, new friends...yet somehow we're even closer, now.

The sadness, however, frequently gives way to outrageous bouts of laughter and highly inappropriate remarks which I will share with you one day in the distant future. Very distant. There is no need for you to know the true depths of our depravity. You just aren’t ready for that. Trust me.

As we move forward, feel free to keep asking about us and about our mom and about our aunt and about our cousins. Don’t worry that a particular question will be inappropriate or might make us cry, because here’s the thing: there is no predicting what topic might make a person cry.

Yesterday, I spoke to someone about the flowers at my dad’s funeral for ten minutes without a hint of sadness or sentimentality. Thirty minutes later, I had to leave the room because someone mentioned Easter.

I explained to a friend that although we’re doing well, our emotions are always bubbling very near the surface and that, like bubbles, they suddenly appear and then *poof* they’re gone. You needn’t worry or feel uncomfortable around our occasional distant stares or teary eyes. It’s just the nature of bubbles.

Ava with Paw-Paw's Balloon Flowers

Some of dad's clown friends sent a bouquet of balloon flowers to the funeral home in honor of dad. Of course, they went home with the Grand-Fabulous Ava.

Two pictures I wish we would have put in dad's keepsake video

It's been driving me nuts that I didn't bring these with us

to put in the keepsake video. So, here you go...

Uncle Wayne, Uncle Leonard, Dad,

Grandma Ransonette and Grandpa Ransonette

Uncle Leonard, Dad and Uncle Wayne at Cory's wedding

Another Thank You

Thank you to everyone who came to dad's services and to all of you who were there in spirit.

We especially want to thank our cousin Father "Jimmy" Courville for doing such a beautiful and thoughtful and special job for our family.

Dad's Online Memorial, Keepsake Video and Keepsake Printing

Click above the picture of my dad (click here for his memorial page) to view the keepsake video and keepsake printing for my dad prepared by Broussard's Mortuary here in Beaumont.

I want to send out special love and thanks to our friend Dana Melancon for providing the music last night at dad's vigil which was all upbeat and fun, exactly what my dad requested and I can't begin to express how wonderful our dear friend Tom Broussard and everyone at Broussard's has been.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Dad would be so pissed and an interesting fact

Dad would be so pissed
When dad pulled us in individually to speak to us before he passed, in typical Ransonette fashion, it was all about practical matters. We shared our emotions as a group, but the important stuff (important to him) was emphasized in individual conversations.

One of his biggest requests was that he didn't want a lot of media coverage. Well, that didn't happen and, I swear to you, every time a reporter or television station would call yesterday it would either thunder or start raining harder.

Sorry, dad. Not our fault.

Interesting fact
Did you know that it's possible to cry and brush your teeth at the same time? I didn't. Maybe it's the Xanax. Ah, the miracles of modern medicine.

Dad Stuff and links to newspaper articles and obituaries

Two random thoughts about my dad that are just on my mind tonight:
He and mom kept miniature Snicker's in dad's room at the hospital and would tell every nurse and doctor, every single time they came into the room, "Don't forget your tip." Then they would badger the poor people until they took at least one Snicker, telling them to at least give it to someone else if they didn't want it or couldn't eat it themselves.

Thought number two is the fact that he absolutely, positively refused to wear a seatbelt. Drove us all crazy.

Links
Link to dad's obituary and memorial page where you can leave a message: click here.

Link to article in the Port Arthur News: click here.

Link to article in the Beaumont Enterprise: click here.

Link to story on local CBS television station (with lots of pictures): click here.

Link to story on local FOX television station (with video): click here.

Link to more pictures of dad: click here.

Harold "Red" Ransonette, Jr. (July 27, 1932 - September 27, 2009)

My dad passed away at 10:00 a.m. this morning. I had just left the hospital to come home and shower when I got the call to come back to the hospital. As we all made our phone calls this morning, most of the people we called were at church and more than a few called us back to say they had been praying for dad.

I can't begin to thank you all for your love and support.

Here are some of my favorite pics of dad and click here for some of my favorite dad stories.





















My dad passed away at 10:00 a.m. this morning. I had just left the hospital to come home and shower when I got the call to come back to the hospital. As we all made our phone calls this morning, most of the people we called were at church and more than a few called us back to say they had been praying for dad.

I can't begin to thank you all for your love and support.

Here are some of my favorite pics of dad and click here for some of my favorite dad stories.

Dad Update and a Little Something Strange

Dad is the same this morning. Love to everyone reading this. I know he knows you care.

An interesting side note. While my uncle and his family were visiting dad yesterday, my uncle and my cousin's friend's hearing aid batteries went out at the same time. A few hours later my cousin's hearing aid battery went out. They all told us that that has never happened to them before where all their batteries went out within a few hours of each other..

Dad Update and Aunt Lora Scares Everybody

My dad's brother and his wife and daughter and a friend were just here visiting dad and my dad's brother's wife passed out in the room. The nurses called a Code and it was mass chaos for a while. My cousin just came back up from the emergency room and they say that she just "passed out" and she will be fine. Holy cow.

Dad Update

It's Saturday morning and dad is still with us. No change. We continue to talk to him and remind him of all the family who are on the other side and are waiting for him.

The widow of my young cousin who passed away three weeks ago came up to visit dad with my mom's sisters and my cousin Chris yesterday. Cindy told dad that Alan is waiting for him, but dad must still have things to do here before he goes.

Bonnie brought her laptop up here to the hospital, so I thought I'd do an update. The nurses and clergy at the hospital continue to take good care of us. Love you all.

Dad Update

Mom called us from the hospital Wednesday night a couple of hours after we all got home and said that the nurse suggested she call us, because dad was beggining to pass away.

We all went up there (me, Terry, Stu and Bonnie) and gathered around dad and told him it was okay to go. Eventually, we all found a place to try to get comfortable and rest.

Thursday, dad was still with us, we all spent the night again last night and he's still with us this morning. I've come home to freshen up and go back to the hospital.

I knew everybody was wondering.

Dad Update and Dad Jokes and Dad Joke on Pain Medication

Dad Update
Mom and dad spoke to dad's oncologist this morning and the oncologist told dad that they could either stay in the hospital, go home or be transferred to hospice. Dad told the doctor that after four weeks in the hospital he already felt like he was at home (we've become very fond of the nurses and immensely grateful for all they've done for us) and that going home or to hospice would be too hard on my mom. The decision was made to stay in the hospital.

I know that the thought of staying in the hospital rather than going home might sound like an odd choice. However, my mom and dad, being the funny, sweet, considerate, patient, thoughtful people they are has created a real bond with the nursing staff and we couldn't be more confident and comfortable anywhere else.

Dad had another pretty good day. He was alert in the morning and still either had a joke for each nurse that came in or told her what good work she was doing or how pretty she was.

Dad's infectious disease doctor came in and before he could say anything to dad, dad started telling him that he knew the doctor had done everything he could and that it was his body that had given up. It was evident that the doctor was taken aback, since he had obviously come into the room to comfort dad and all my dad could think of was that he didn't want the doctor to feel like he had failed him...or us.

We had lots of visitors today: dad's brother and sister-in-law, his niece and her family, two of dad's childhood friends and some of the girls from our old neighborhood.

Also today, my grand-fabulous-daughter Ava was much more playful with her paw-paw. We were all very grateful for that. She's been very tentative with him, which has been understandable, but very sad to see. Today was a good day for Ava and her beloved Paw-Paw.

By the time we left tonight, dad was very tired. They have started him on a low dose of medication to relax him and make him comfortable which also makes him sleep more.

Dad Jokes
As I mentioned earlier, dad always has a joke for the nurses. When he went back into ICU last week, mom and Bonnie and Terry and I waited patiently outside his room peeking tensely through the blinds watching the oh-so-serious nurses work on getting dad hooked up to all the big, scary equipment. Suddenly, both nurses busted out laughing. We knew that even at that intense moment, dad was still only interested in making everybody else feel better.

Today, he told us that after the couple of days in ICU when the three blond nurses who had been taking care of him were wheeling him back to the room, he told them, "Now that you're taking me back to the room, I have a blond joke for y'all."

One of the nurses said, "What do you mean 'now' you can tell us? Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Dad told them, "You think I'm crazy? I'm going to tell three blonds with rusty needles a blond joke while I can't defend myself?"

Dad's Brain on Pain Medication
Out of the blue at one point this afternoon, when it was just the original "Ransonette Family" (mom, dad, Laurie, Terry, Stuart, Bonnie), dad suddenly said, "Why do they have locks on the lockers in the police station?"

Good question dad.