48 posts tagged “family”
Yesterday an aunt and uncle surprised us for a quick visit. This is the first time they've been here since my Godmother died. We used to do dinner with them at the same restaurant -- tradition, you know?
As we were talking about where we would go to dinner, that restaurant came up. It made me choke up. We haven't been there since the last time they were here. We went with Gina and my Godfather. She and I split a beer and I got her drunk. Only fair, she gave me my first sip of beer!
In a move out of character for my mom, she told them the true story. That I've to spoken to him in two years. She didn't try to gloss it over and make it pretty. She told them that if they saw where he left her they wouldn't want to see him either, so they agreed to lunch with him today -- without me.
I felt such a sense of relief. And it make me feel like my mom really understands how I feel about it. I still miss Gina so much.
The father of my best friend in elementary school died this week. The services are today. I’m going, even though I’m certain I’ve not seen his daughter in 25 years. But I do remember those times. And how great I thought her dad was.
Back then, she and I liked the same boy. And today is his birthday.
All in all, I'm feeling a little melancholy today.
I continue to scan photos for mom's digital frame. I have over 200 now. New and old alike. While going through a box of loose photos, I found these of my dad. They are the only two I have. Only two I think I have ever seen. I think the kids in the 1981 photo are of the grandkids he lived with. He died in 1987.
I had a Kirin beer with my Thai food the other night. Just to test out how I might feel. My heart beat pretty erratically the rest of the night. :-(
My niece got in late Friday night. We put them up at a hotel, so we didn't see them. I had my normal Saturday radio reading project, so I planned on getting in touch with them after that. However, they were already at mom's when I called her to form a game plan.
I was really proud of her for going to Grandma's on her own. They came to my house and we just hung out a bit before lunch. We ran a couple of errands and came back here before dinner. We'd talked about the zoo and a train ride, but the day got too cold for the little guy to be out.
Yesterday they got here about 11am to watch football. Mom bought lunch after she got off work and they left about 3:30pm.
Thoughts:
Christopher is precious. He is even tempered, able to entertain himself, sweet and loving. They do baby sign language with him, which I think is terrific and contributes to his overall happiness. He knows about 20 sign language words and uses them often to tell them what he wants/needs/etc... He also uses speaking words to call his parents, the dog, the football.
Ray is a doll. She really got lucky with him. I'm sure he's not perfect, but he's a keeper.
And my niece. I'm still not sure why they came. She does not talk. Unless you ask her a question, then she can answer thoroughly, but idle chit-chat is not her thing. She does not ask questions of us. She's just . . . I don't know. It makes the time spent with her exhausting. It's awkward and too much work.
After they left, my mom said, "I just can't warm up to her." I understand that. I've decided that for as much I'd like to have her and Christopher in our lives, it may not be something I spend a lot of time cultivating.
You can't hide those
There's a message on my machine from my niece asking if they can come visit next weekend.
My brother went home yesterday. THANK GOD. He just talks and talks and talks. Even mom said, "He's a good soul, if only he didn't talk so much."
One of the things that grates on my nerves is, "I know." He knows everything. Even when I know that as I'm explaining the nuclear shot she had, it was the first he'd heard of it. I'm glad I had some friends around to experience him. It must been seen to be believed.
We only had one incident when I spoke back to him and he got all attitudinal on me. Mom and I have a deal. I let her do the talking. After all, she is talking about herself. Her experience. How she feels. I only interject at the end, and only if I think she missed something important. (OK, sometimes I nod my head which prompts her doctor to ask more probing questions.)
Well, as a talker, my brother answers for her. Even if she is speaking at the same time. A nurse was asking her questions Friday night and he just kept talking. Finally I told him to be quiet and let her talk. He did, but he let me know he was not happy about it.
Yesterday she and I were on the phone. He was hearing her side of the conversation and still answering for her. And he's loud. To the point of destraction.
He says he'll be back after Thanksgiving. I'm not holding my breath.
I've had dormant Facebook account for a while now. Frankly, I'd forgotten about it. But earlier this week I received a friend request from a niece.
This is a niece from my father's side of the family. From the brother I speak to on that side of the family. She is four years younger than me. I had no idea. Weird.
My niece has twice sent me an invite to join Upromise. I don't know why this offends me, but it does. Perhaps if it didn't seem like such a chore for her to answer an email. Or that she reached this way once in a while with something other than the monthly Target photo salon pictures (and I use "salon" loosely). Right now if there was anyone I'd want to help save for college, it would be my Godson. Someone I know and like (and he seems to like me back).
