Back to reality

It's Sunday evening and we're back from vacation. We had a great time - would have liked to stay longer. The kids start school tomorrow, I start my new job tomorrow too, and we're trying to get the house put back together now that the painters are finished painting. We moved all the furniture back in that we had stored in the garage all week, but hanging pictures, etc. will have to wait. I sat down at the computer a little while ago and got a handle on how much money we spent on vacation and what our finances are like going into the new week, and I went to the store to get basic groceries for the next few days. The dog has finished throwing up (hopefully) due to his transition from my friend's house back to ours, and the cats have realized that their time of lounging and running free gleefully through the house has ended now that he's back.

When we got home I was checking messages and got one from my grandmother - telling me that my uncle died on Friday. I had talked to him right before we left, and told him I was coming to see him in 2 weeks. He said he would wait for me, but he needed to go sooner. He was in so much pain and had suffered silently for so long. The service is Wednesday, so I'll need to tell my new boss tomorrow that I need Wed & Thurs off...I'm sure he'll understand, but I still starting this way. Still, though, my grandmother and my aunt need me there and I want to say goodbye to him. The kids will probably come too - they'll just make up their work at school over the weekend. He's at peace - up in heaven with my mother - his sister and only sibling. My poor grandmother has had to bury both her children - that's just so wrong. She was with him when he went, though, and was able to hold him as he went. She didn't get that with my mother - I don't know if one is better than the other - sudden al s or long, drawn-out ones. She is such an incredible woman - I've known that since I was a little . I just dread the day that I have to say goodbye to her too.

Now I'm off to prepare for tomorrow - *deep breath* - it's going to be a busy week...

Blueberries...mmmmmmm....

Yesterday Amanda and I went blueberry picking - there's a man in town who has 6 acres of blueberry bushes, most are 20-25 years old. He can't possibly pick them all, and he sells them to local markets and co-ops. He lets locals come up and pick, and for every 4 pints you pick you get to take one home for free. You can also just go buy some, but the picking was fun. We picked over 20 pints and took home five. We polished off three pints last night! They are HUGE and so good. The kids want to go back today but right now it's pouring rain. We'll see how the weather is later.

He said they will keep coming until the first hard frost. Looks like we've got a lot of picking in our future over the next month or two. It's great to be able to help this old man and get something in return at the same time. :)

good news

Mike's dad came through his surgery ok, and is feeling better. It's amazing what a little flow to the brain can do. ;)

My boss also agreed to pay me for my vacation next week - she was going to try to weasel out of paying me, saying that I wasn't eligble to use my comp time because I was leaving - we talked about it and she remembered a conversation that we had back in the fall when I explained that I was working 9-hour days as opposed to 8-hour days so that I could save up time to be paid for that vacation, even though I wasn't officially eligible for vacation until September. She backed down without a fight - whew!

He got it!

Another milestone was reached yesterday - little Mike got his driver's permit. I think I was more nervous than he was. I watched him intently through the glass as he took the test, like I was sending him telepathic good luck. Amanda thought it was a riot. Everyone that came out before him after getting their results, I could tell if they passed or failed. Three people failed in a row, then one passed, and another, and I told Amanda the tables were turning...lol. Then one more passed, then Mike came out. We waited in anticipation as the man at the counter scored his test. I watched as he ticked off the wrong answers. One, two, three...then he stopped and said "congratulations, you passed"...woohoo!

We went to the other counter and Mike got his picture taken and left with a nice shiny new permit. I offered to let him drive partway up our road to the house so he could show off to his dad, who was home waiting...but he declined. He wants to start at a parking lot...smart kid. :)

Death comes to us all...

This is a quote from a movie, but I can't remember which one - maybe a Dracula movie, perhaps, but it doesn't matter. This is what comes to mind when I think of my uncle. He's about 60 years old and he's in the final stages of liver cancer. He's stopped eating. He's skin and bones. I saw him at Christmastime and told him how he was special to me and what I remembered most about spending time with him when I was a kid. He's a private guy, and doesn't like emotional stuff, but I told him that I had to tell him that. He's my mother's only sibling, and she died a little over two years ago, so this really hits home even more. My grandmother is taking it really hard - "a parent shouldn't have to bury her children" I believe were her words. It kills me to see her so sad. She's in her early 80's and the type that I thought would never get old - well, now she's getting old. She was like a mother to me. Still is. I love her so much but I'm so far away - I can't do much for either her or my uncle. Now they're just waiting - he said the other day that he was ready to go. He and my aunt had a motorcycle wedding - I was probably 6 or 7 years old but I still remember it. All their friends came on Harleys and they did too. My uncle used to make bikes in his shop in my grandmother's basement and I would hang out and watch. He wanted to take me for a ride but I was scared. Now I want that ride more than anything and I'll never get it.

Death comes...to us all.