Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and ~ma. I really appreciate it.
It's weird. I have occasional weepy moments, but I really saw this coming--maybe not quite so soon, but I knew Dad would have to be extremely lucky to live another 5 years. And then there are other moments where I'm just as caught up in the petty trivia of life as I was yesterday before Mom called--because my shoulder still hurts a lot, it's still hotter than I like in our house, I learned that I didn't final in yet another contest today, so maybe I can't write at all, etc. I suppose that's only natural in a way. It feels like time should stand still and nothing else should matter, but as VCOB was saying to me yesterday in a different context, life really does go on, and you can't completely put all your other responsibilities and commitments on hold.