Sad News. I came back to the dorm around 7:30 PM and the following letter was waiting for me:

Dear Son,

I have missed your letters and phone calls. In the meantime I have been very busy with Dad. He needed multiple rounds of chemotherapy treatments and many blood transfusions.

He seemed to be doing very well at one time and celebrated his 80th birthday here at the house. It was well attended by many people. family from near and far, friends from NY and PA, old friends from St. Stevens church and many others.

After the party he enjoyed a couple of comfortable months when all seemed to be doing well in his blood.

However, two weeks ago he slowed down quite a bit and was having a lot of difficulty breathing. The doctor initially thought that he might be dehydrated as Dad did not like drinking a lot of liquids. He was not always so good at telling the doctor how he was feeling.

He got an infection in one of his teeth and his body was not able to fight it off due to the chemotherapy treatments. On Friday, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance and he died the next day on Saturday evening.

Dad was cremated and a memorial service was held at St. John's Lutheran Church on Saturday. It was so crowded that they needed to set up extra chairs. His ashes were spread by the family from the bridge at the bottom of the falls.

How are you getting along now with your leg? Are you still playing at the two church services?

It is okay to call me here at the house.

I am enclosing the normal money order.

Love,
[signed] Mother

So now what? It is 9:00 PM here, and I will wait till tomorrow to try and call from the chaplain's office. I am entitled to one emergency phone call, and I would like to be able to make the call with Chaplain Paul around. I have told two of the inmates here in the last hour or so but hey there is no one here I can talk to at all. I can not even find a corner to cry in.

Tomorrow I will go to work in the morning and then hopefully get up to see the chaplain around 1:00 PM  ¶ 10:26 PM