It's been a hard year
I hope everyone is doing well. It's been a really hard year for me, and I haven't had the time, or the motivation to take as many photos this year.
In April, my step-father Dr. Jack Cranford @jcranford fell and broke his hip. He was hospitalized, and had it fixed, however, during his rehabilitation, he developed a bleed, and when they sent him back to the hospital, they found his liver was severely enlarged, and was covered in nodules, and cirrosis. He was previously diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and was also very confused about his time in the hospital, and nursing home. When he returned to rehab he lost all of his previously made progress, and lost the ability to even sit up by himself, along with 75lbs.
I visited him in July, and it was painful, but I'm glad that I got to see him again, and talk to him. He passed away at the end of last month. It's been absolutely devastating for me, as I was very close to him.
One of my favorite things to do during my bi-annual visits, was to sit down, and show him all of my observations I had made since the last time I visited. It's hard for me to pick up my camera at the moment. I finally made myself go out this morning to a trail. I cried half of the trail. I sat down at the end with my husband and just talked for a while.
Jack was a wonderful father, and a brilliant Mammalogist. He taught me soooo many things over the years, as I know he also taught many students at Virginia Tech. I've just been absolutely crushed. He was 83, but there were still so many things I wanted to do together. There is just never enough time. I'm grateful we had a wonderful visit last summer. He made it down to the beach with us one day, and I was able to spend time at home with him, and introduced him to Merlin. I used a playback to call some of the birds in closer so he could see them.
I'll miss him so very much.
My uploads will probably be a little sparse for the time being.
I haven't quit, I just need time to pull myself together.
As I go through things, I hope to upload Jack's slides, and photos as historic records on his account in memory of him.
Thank you all for your support in ID over the years. I really do appreciate it, and have thoroughly enjoyed INaturalist.
-Ash
