United Friends Challenge #60

Mysticalmistress' Challenge

Write about the child within each of us.

                                                                       

A CONVERSATION WITH YOU

Hello?

Hi !

I'm very well thanks.

How are you? Good.

So you want to hear about my day?

Like what?

Ohhhh. Well, the first thing I did was wake up.

Oh. I got out of bed after I woke up. Is that what you mean?

Oh. Ok. I put my slippers on.

Ha Ha. You're funny. They're bunny slippers.

Ok. After I woke up and after I got out of bed and after I put on my slippers and after I went and washed my face and brushed my teeth, I went and had cheerios for breakfast. I like cheerios. They're yummy in my tummy.

Ummmm what did I do next? Trying to 'member.

Put my bowl and spoon in the sink.

What?

Oh. You don't mean stuff like that. Ok.

Does that mean you don't want to know about my flowered undies or my pink shorts or my shirt?

Oh. Yeah. Guess I already did. Ha ha

I did put on the television, but there wasn't anything good on.

Then I picked up my book to read it, but I didn't want to so I put it back.

Did I do anything fun before lunch?

I watched my cat play with a bug for a bit.

I don't know what kind of a bug it was. I didn't go look.

Well silly. My cat was watching it and every time it moved, he put out his foot and stopped it from getting away.

You're silly. If the bug got away, then my cat wouldn't be able to play with it anymore.

I don't know if the bug said something to make my cat mad though.

Why?

'Cause my cat decided to eat it. There was nothing left of the bug and my cat was licking his lips. Don't think I would want to eat a bug.

Do cats have lips? Then why don't they kiss each other instead of licking?

Oh. Not those kind of lips.

They sure got a scratchy tongue. Do you think it tickles them when they lick their feet and stuff? I don't hear my cat laugh.

Why do I ask that? Well, when my cat licks me, he tickles.

You got a nice laugh.

You're welcome.

No. It was raining out so the sun was hiding behind some angry looking clouds.

Oh yes. I love to go outside in the rain. It's fun.

I run around. I try to run in between the drops so I don't get wet.

Ha Ha. Of course I get wet. But it's fun trying not to anyways.

Rubber boots? That's no fun.

I wear my sandals. The blue ones. It doesn't matter if they get wet.

Want to know what is really fun about playing in the rain?

Jumping in the puddles of course! Ha Ha

Well sure. You take a little run and then jump in with both feet at the same time.

Why?

To see how big a splash you can make.

No. I don't always make big splashes, but one time I did.

I got mud in my hair.

Had to have a bath and wash my hair when I went inside.

Took me two days to get all the dirt out. But it was worth it. Biggest splash I ever made.

I was at the store one time getting milk and stuff when it started to rain and all these people were standing inside the doors waiting for the rain to stop.

Not me. Out I go, big smile on my face.

Cuz I know the flowers and trees are getting a drink and a shower.

People are so silly staying inside. It's only water. It's not like you won't dry off eventually.

Know what I think?

People need to relax and have fun. They forget to do that.

They're always worrying about stuff. Like getting wet in the rain.
They forgot how much fun they had as a kid.

They still could if they would let themselves run around in the rain.

Heaven knows my 24 year old son thinks I'm nuts at times.

Ha Ha

Click here for other UFC ~ Child Within Us blogs

United Friends Challenge #58

Skyrider's Challenge

Write about a blind date.
It can be a real experience, a made up story, or a poem ... you choose.
Have fun with it!

One of Those Days

It was just one of those days. From the moment I got up, if it could go wrong, it did. I've only been  up and out of bed for only an hour and I am standing here now, looking at my bed, still crumpled and messy, but looking oh so inviting. Do you hear it? It's even calling my name, beckoning me to jump in. But, alas, I cannot. Of all the days to start off with a bang and go downhill from there, today was not the day to do it.

It all started with the storm during the night. I hadn't realized it was bad enough to knock out the electricity for a short time, so my alarm clock was a little out of whack. Yep, It went off at the wrong time and now I'm running late for my usual morning routine.
Skip the cup of tea, go straight into the shower. Yep, you guessed it. My hair is all lathered up with shampoo when the hot water takes a detour somewhere else in the building. It sure isn't coming down on me any. After a few small squeals and a lot of shivering, the shampoo is down the drain and I'm out.
Then my day proceeds along with blowing a fuse to the plug the hairdryer is in, my deodorant slips out of my hand and falls into the toilet, my new nylons have a run in the toe, and I'm missing a shoe.
I'm really missing that cup of tea about now, will have to grab a coffee at the little shop around the corner. But gee that bed looks sooooo comfy. Debated about saying screw it, call the boss with a few coughs thrown in for good measure, but not today. I've got to open up the store for him.

So out the door I go and wouldn't you know it? Just as soon as the door to my apartment slams shut, I realize I don't have my keys in my hand. Rooting around in my purse as I walk down the hall to the stairs don't improve my day any. No keys there either.

As is my habit, I grab the railing when going down or up the stairs. Just when I least expect it, I misplace a foot. That railing has saved me many a trip the hard way down the treads. And of course, today being the day that it is, I missed the bottom step and down I went. Ah well, I didn't like these shoes anyways. But walking to work in nylons without shoes is just asking for runs to spread like spider webs, so I tried to get them off, as discretely as I could, while standing outside the main door to the building. Of course, the city bus full of people on their way to work would have to go by just then. Then again, it's been a long time since I got whistled at.

Knowing there is a shoe store just a block away, and in the opposite direction of where I needed to go, I headed there anyways. The six block walk to work on these cement tiles in bare feet would definitely have my feet looking like I hadn't washed them in a year. Great timing, the owner was just opening up. New shoes on my feet with a bill for them, using money I didn't have, in my wallet, I only got to the store a few minutes late. Nobody was waiting so that was good. Right at this point and time, I am very thankful that I put the store keys into a separate pocket in my purse so I wouldn't lose them. The way my day has gone so far, I just might have. Dig my hand into that pocket and came up empty.

Ohhhh no

The store next door keeps a spare key for us. Dash in there, grab the key, dash back out, keying the lock on the fly into the store, only taking half a glance at the gentleman leaning against the lamp post at the edge of the sidewalk.

I'm no sooner in the door when I bang my knee against one of the display shelves in the middle of the room. Losing my balance having done that, I juttered and sidestepped across the room, purse thumping down onto the floor, the counter looming towards my face when I felt someone grab me from behind. I let out a large squeal.

"Careful there" says the lamp post leaner.

I just stood there, his hands spanning my waist, with my jaw open, I'm sure, staring at him. Then he said those words that truly ruined my day.

"Melanie sent me"

Yep. My sister wanted me to meet this guy so badly, I had made up an excuse of why he had to come to the store first. Who knew it would be at nine o'clock in the morning and just when I'm at my clumsiest self ?

Without another word, he made sure I was steady on my pegs before turning on his heel, heading towards the door. I could only watch him go, not offering a word of protest at his departure. What could I say? I had sealed my own fate by introducing myself the way I did.

My blind date was halfway out the door, when he turned, threw me a wink, saying "I'll be back at five to pick you up".

Click here to read other Blind Date Challenges

True Insurance Claims - borrowed from Moimoiis, with Thanks

INSURANCE CLAIM FORMS TO MAKE YOU SMILE - U.K. CIRCA 1975

• The accident was due to the other man narrowly missing me.
• I collided with a stationary trolley coming in the opposite direction.
• In order to avoid a collision, I ran into the other car.
• The other car collided with me without even warning me of his intention.
• There were plenty of onlookers but no witnesses.
• The water in my radiator accidentally froze at midnight.
• My car had to turn very sharply because of an invisible truck.
• I was just in the act of scraping my nearside on the curb when the accident happened.
• I collided with a stationary tree. There was no damage done to the tree as the gatepost will testify.
• The accident was entirely due to the road bending.
• I left my Austin 7 outside and when I came out later, to my amazement there was an Austin 12.
• The witness gave his occupation as that of a gentleman but it actually would be more correct to call him a garage proprietor.
• The other man changed his mind and I had to run into him. I told the idiot just what he was and went on.
• One wheel went into the ditch. My foot jumped from brake to accelerator, leaped across the road to the other side, and jumped into the trunk of a tree.
• I remember nothing after passing the Crown Hotel until I came to and saw Police Officer Brown.
• A bull was standing nearby and a fly must have tickled him because he gored my car.
• A cow wandered into my car. I was later informed that the unfortunate cow was half witted.
• She suddenly saw me, lost her head, and we met.
• If the other driver had stopped a few yards behind himself it certainly would not have happened.
• I was taking a friend home and following the lampposts, which were in a straight line. Unfortunately there was a bend in the road bringing the right hand lamppost in line with the left so of course I landed in a ditch.
• I bumped into a lamppost that was obscured by human beings.
• I heard a horn blow and was struck violently in the back. Evidently a lady was trying to pass me.
• I misjudged a lady crossing the street.
• Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I haven't got.
• Three women were talking to one another, and when one stepped back and another stepped forward, I had to have an accident.
• I thought my window was down, but I found out it was up when I put my head through it.
• I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.
• A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's face.
• A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
• he guy was all over the road. I have to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
• I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
• In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.
• I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision, and I did not see the other car.
• I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.
• I was on my way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident.
• As I approached the intersection a sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.
• To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front I struck the pedestrian.
• My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.
• An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.
• I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat found that I had a  fractured skull.
• I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him.
• The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run so I ran over him.
• I saw a slow-moving, sad faced old gentleman as he bounced off the roof of my car.
• The indirect cause of the accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
• I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.
• The telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of the way when I struck the front end.
• I consider that neither vehicle was to blame, but if either were to blame, it was the other one.
• I knocked over a man. He admitted it was his fault as he had been run over before.
• The accident was due to the other man narrowly missing me.
• The car occupants were stalking deer on the hillside.
• A dog on the road applied brakes, causing a skid
• But I SWEAR! That mailbox just jumped into my rear window out of NOwhere. The NERVE of some mailboxes! (Cal lol)

Jello Poke Cake

Description:
Just a basic cake out of the box but instead of using icing, it has a bit of summer coolness and can be refreshing and light as an after dinner dessert.



Ingredients:
1 box cake mix, any flavour desired
1 box jello gelatin, any flavour desired
Cool Whip

Directions:
Make cake according to instructions on box, putting it into a 9x13 pan**.
But don't take it out of the pan at all. You'll need to leave it in there.

When the cake is almost done, make the jello according to instructions on box and put into fridge to start the gelling process.

You will have to keep an eye on the jello in that it doesn't set too much. You don't want it too runny, but having it set totally doesn't quite work well either. You want the Jello just set enough that you can put it on the cake without soaking it or just sitting on top.

When the cake is cooled, take something round like the end of a small wooden spoon and poke holes into the top of the cake. All over, and at least an inch or so apart.
You can vary the depth of the holes but about an inch or so.

Pour the Jello into the top of the cake, and using a spoon or rubber spatula, spread the jello around and lightly press down so that some of the jello gets into the holes.

Pop the cake/jello into the fridge.

Before serving, you can either put the Cool Whip all over the top of the cake or just plop on top as you cut and serve.

Keep refrigerated.

**Instead of using a 9x13 pan, you can also use two smaller pans if you wish to have two different flavours of jello or if you're going over to a friends and wish to bring 'dessert'. Or layer them like in the picture, but I haven't tried that myself.

Just some Qs ....

(Other than my cat being an orange tabby/persian with a white tummy, he sits and looks at me just like in that pic when I'm talking to him hahaha KC looks at me as if he understands every word I am saying)

So what do you think of this thing so far?
I did more tweaking today, trying to make it look a bit more clean-not-chaotic and relaxed.

You are sitting at a table at the cafe, a cup of java or a glass of wine in front of you. A friend is sitting across the table, when another friend joins you.  You have good news you wish to share with them. So, you open up a blog compose page to tell them all about it.
Is the spot for doing this easy enough to find and do?

Are things easy enough to find and understand?
Will new members get the concept of what is happening here and how to find things?
Any suggestions ?
I have a couple or three sections (?) limited to just admins. Is that fair? Any opinions?

I know that most, if not all groups, has the blog section for admins while notes is for asking Qs etc. Suppose there might be a problem in the works having it the opposite here ?

Ohhhh, and the big one is about the requests to members part.
Too harsh? Not harsh enough? Left something out?
It is repeated in the notes section as well. I did realize today that I have to figure out where I went wrong with that and increase the font size. Or some of us will be reaching for a magnifying glass because our glasses don't work anymore with that one lol.

And yes, I could have done this in a PM like I did the other, but where is the fun in that?
I want to check out this conversation idea thingamajig haha.
Even knowing all 3 of you are offline

I Stand Before Thee

I stand here day by day

No place else I need to be

Just soaking up the sunshine

And drinking in a bit of rain

The way the sun shines upon my face

Warming up my peaceful soul

Asking for nothing in return

Except to see my happy smile

And how the rain can make me dance

The droplets hitting my face

I lap up the sweetness

Same time I wash up clean

I stand up as tall as I can

When the sun shines upon me

It’s when the darkness falls

That I slouch down to sleep

I don’t get many visitors

Spending most of my time alone

Watching the days move by

As the world goes zipping along

My visitors alight for a short time

Seeking what I don’t have

But even our brief time together

They take away a piece of me

When I feel they won’t stay

I quickly whisper in their ear

To pass along a message

To my family that is near

Sometimes you might see me

Somewhere in your day

You might even hesitate

To bestow a smile upon thee

You wonder at my beauty

You might ponder my life

Something so simple and humble

Can possibly stand up tall

I don’t mind posing for pictures

It would truly be a pleasure

Knowing you thought enough

To take away the memory

So next time you’re driving along

Don’t forget to look and see

I sit here on the side of the road

You know my name is Daisy

@ WolvesandRainbows 7/19/08

Maw

I had really debated on whether to do this blog in honour of a particular 'mother' for Mothers Day or not. And no, she isn't my mother, but she has always treated me like a daughter and a friend.

I met this lady way back in early 1980. I don't remember the exact date, but the first time I met her, was sometime between January and the end of February, when a male friend and I went to her place to pick up her son. The two guys were applying for a position within the company they worked for, in their heavy haul division and I was just going along for the ride before work. This woman apparently didn't know we were coming and her son was still in bed sleeping! Guess he forgot to mention it haha.

MM thought it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for us to pop in and invade her home like that. She was a very friendly and gracious hostess. Pretty cool lady. Her friend, M, was over visiting and they treated us both like we were already family, they were that relaxed. Sort of amazed me as I wasn't used to that.  When I was growing up, unexpected guests was cause for a bit of organized chaos at times.

Anyways. The second time I got to be in the presence of this lady, I was dating her son and he took me 'home'. Little did I know that the whole darn family was at home that night. I'm not good (well, wasn't good) with unexpected situations like that. I get very bashful and very quiet. Pretty much, it was up to the other person/people to initiate conversations and ask questions to get me to say much of anything.

Having everybody 'home' was a bit like a whirlwind was going through. Compared to what I was used to, it was. There were conversations going on. One or several at the same time. Some kibitzing (teasing) and laughter. There were mom, dad, 3 boys and a girl, enjoying life, then I got tossed into it haha. Wow. The two youngest were still in school, tho almost finished.

The youngest boy, S, (about 17ish) had this nickname (and to this day, I'm still not sure why other than he's as strong as one) of Moose. The second oldest boy, J, asked me, out of the blue and as is normal in that household sort of thing, if I had ever 'goosed a moose?'.  Well, I am pretty sure I probably blushed a few shades of red and said no, having already been advised of what a 'goose' was. Well then J turns to S, a few feet away, and told S to 'bend over' !!! And I thought I had blushed before ?? HA !! I'm sure I made a cooked lobster look pale with that one ! MM just laughed and told me to not mind them, I'll get used to it.

Some years later, we talked about her kids and some of the stunts they pulled and whatnot. She only said that they weren't committing any crimes, they knew what respect was, for others, and they knew when to be a gentleman. I had to agree with her on that, as they were all decent kids. She raised them with a lot of love, while instilling in them what was right, what was wrong, what she expected them as a member of the human race in good standing, etc etc. And they all loved her just as much back. How did this woman, at 4 foot 11, get three strapping boys to tow the line growing up? With a lot of love and accepting they were all different in their personalities and outlook on life, but making sure they also knew who was boss in the house as long as they were living there. But they did, and still do, love to kid around and tease one another.

And while I wasn't a daughter born to her, she loved me just as much and I knew it. And I loved her just as much back. I didn't realize it, but she had accepted me as her daughter at the very first visit. She said she knew then. She accepted me, warts and all, never criticizing, never judging what she didn't understand, always giving me the freedom to be myself. She always listened to my point of view and allowed me that, while gently expressing her point of view, but never pushing it on me, just giving me 'food for thought' and let me make my own decisions.

When my son was born, her and her friend M came to the hospital to see him the very next day. There was no way you could have kept her home, short of hog-tying her to a chair or something. And even then, I suspect she would have dragged the chair along, still attached to her backside. She fretted over the fact that he would have to have surgery by the time he was a year old. He was born with a partial cleft palette, which also left him with the inability to suck the milk out of a normal baby bottle. She grabbed that bottle that had to be specially fitted with a lambs nipple and fed her grand-baby without a second thought. Oh, she hated when she tipped him back too much, like you might with a regular baby bottle, and inadvertently forced the formula to come out his nose. She hated it for his sake more so than she caused it, saying 'it can't be comfortable for him'.  He was about 3 when we found a new family doctor and said 'something isn't going right' and found out, over a few months, that this grand-baby of hers would be special. And she loved him even more, as he was God's gift to her, and us. (We/she didn't know then that he would be her only grandchild either)

This woman had a very happy outlook on life, took everything in stride, whatever it was. But heaven help you if you hurt someone she loved.

She always seemed to have this sixth sense sort of thing when I had been to see my parents recently, and walked away upset and troubled, as usual. It was more so the emotional upheaval I experienced in dealing with my mother. Issues from the past that remained unresolved. I could never figure out how she knew. Was she that in tuned with things?
Finally, one day, a few years ago, she told me. I always gave a tell-tale sign. Oh? Yeah, I would take a strand of my hair in my left hand and twirl it. I didn't even realize I was doing it. Not wishing to lay my burdens upon her, I was reluctant to talk about it. She gave me time and eventually I would tell her bits and pieces or the latest drama that was unfolding. MM would get so upset with my mom. But out of respect and compassion for me, she would never think to call my mom and give her what for without my ok. And I never gave her the ok. We would talk, she would offer advice on how I can deal with the roller-coaster of emotions my mother would invoke in me.

Oh, I'm not saying there weren't times when this lady would frustrate me a little. We were two different people, with different thoughts and opinions on things. But I did have to remember that she was also raised in a different era than I was. She was born in 1933. I was born in 1959. A bit of an age gap there. I'm sure I frustrated her a time or two also. There I was, married with a son, still trying to discover who exactly I was. But the one thing she gave of herself was time. She took the time to just sit and talk. Almost anything and everything. She talked of what it was like growing up with 12 brothers and sisters. Times being tough when she was young and the strength her mom had and what she did to help make ends meet. Her mom dying at 50. Her leaving home in eastern Canada and moving to Ontario when she was 16 to work and support herself, taking the burden off her dad. Her and I would talk about my family, my life growing up.

This woman loved this very screwed up young woman in front of her. All my warts, quirks, etc. She loved me unconditionally. She gave me the freedom to straighten myself out. And no, I didn't get involved in drugs or alcohol. But this lost soul was very lost, unhappy, and confused with life at times. She gave me time, while never straying far in case I needed her. And I was always there (or tried to be) when she needed me. We didn't live close to each other, but she only had to call and I was there.

About two years ago, and having been of the age where she had already gone through menopause, she started experiencing something that she hadn't for a few years. And while this woman didn't believe in going to doctors when she got sick (flu etc), she went without a squabble. A few tests later and she had cancer in her uterus. She had a hysterectomy done and undergone chemotherapy. Now, where she lived, the cancer treatment center wasn't just down the road. She had to live away from home while being treated. And as comfy as the place was, and even with the compassion and friendly atmosphere, she didn't like it, but had to endure, so she did so with her usual style. Just a bump in the road. She lost a lot of weight and had trouble with her feet afterwards, so that she had to use a cane, then a walker. She never had quite the same appetite for food either. She ate very little, but did manage to put a couple of pounds back on her small frame. She even managed to attack life with the same vengeance as before, even being slightly limited with her need of a cane and walker. She didn't go the yard sales as much as she used to, but she did manage to get out once in a while. The one thing she loved doing was finding trinkets and useful things at these yard sales. But her purchases were never for herself. Nope. It would be nothing to go up for a visit and she would whip out a jewellers box with earrings in it she thought I might like. Or a neat jacket she found for her grandson. A tool for this son or that one. You get the idea. If she spotted something that so-n-so would like or get use out of, she would buy it.

She got a clean bill of health not too long ago when she had to go back for a checkup on whether she remained cancer free or not. She was.

Then she started experiencing a pain in her tummy. She got checked. It wasn't an ulcer. She didn't have the flu or any other illness. They thought maybe it was just an infection of some sort and gave her antibiotics. Meanwhile, her legs, ankles, and feet swelled up badly. She went home, then she was back in the hospital again. Her legs were so swollen that they were actually hard to the touch, like there was cement in there. She had trouble getting around, but her spirits were still up and positive and this was just another bump in the road.

While she was in, they did more tests, took xrays etc. And because something unusual showed up on her xrays, they did a biopsy, but it would take time for the results to come back, so she went home.  Her husband of 50+ years took care of her. Even though he had a triple bypass a few years previous, he took on the task of cooking and cleaning and laundry and such. He wanted her to just relax and get better.

Their son, my sons father, staying in constant contact with them, calling every couple days, for updates.

I got a call this past monday, the 5th, from their daughter saying mom had to be taken back to the hospital. T was crying on the phone and I immediately thought 'oh no'.

The results of the biopsy came back. Her cancer had come back and had spread. That quick. T says they're giving her about 3 months. But with the way this week has gone and the updates, I don't know that she'll live a month more.

So I find myself in the position of being strong and being there for her family, as much as I can be. And I will do what I need to do while they struggle through this. For her. She would hate it that she is causing her family so much grief and turmoil right now. And I do believe that if she could consciously make the decision to lessen the time they have to deal with this, she would. No, I don't mean physically, like causing her death herself. I mean, mentally. The will to die now, rather than later. The sooner they start to heal after her passing, the better off they'll be. She is like that.

** I typed this out Mothers Day weekend, with the thought of publishing it on Mothers Day. But I kept it in draft mode instead. I had only a few days previous found out she is terminal and my emotions about it were still running amok. I am revisiting this today, the 18th, to put in an update, and maybe publish it.

I went to see this lady in the hospital the day before Mothers Day.  And what I had typed before, about consciously making the decision to lessen the time her family had to deal with her illness and eventual passing was right on. She's ready and wants to go. From what I had heard, she is hiding her pain and feelings from her family. Then I walked in the door and she broke down. She so hates what she is putting them through, she hates being like that and would rather have it end sooner instead of later. And I felt very useless, not knowing what to say, to put her at peace. All I could do was just let her cry and get what she was feeling off her chest, and tell her how much I loved her and that she was more a mom to me than my own mother.

I was talking to her son, my son's father, afterwards. My son and I had also seen the rest of the family that day, other than J and his wife. And I'm not sure how to explain it exactly, but it was the vibes I was getting from the others, but I tried to explain to him that because they are so close to the situation and being able to visit MM every day, that they are coming to terms with her eventually passing, that it's just a matter of when now.  And no, I'm not saying it won't hurt like the dickens when it does happen, just with his mom being so sick, the time she is around for now will help lessen the pain. I also felt like God's plan was for the family to find strength within themselves for that fateful moment, that he was giving them time. (Of course, he argued with me on that, as usual - but that's another story)
The feeling from my son's father is that his dad will pass away shortly after his mom does also. And yet, I don't get that feeling from him. He definitely will be a lost soul without her, for sure, but he is a strong man. Besides, MM will kick his butt all around heaven if he shows up there too soon !

I do know it is very hard to watch someone die. You hate to see them in so much pain. But there is a reason for it. As hard as it is, it gives the family time to start the grieving process as well. Watching my great-aunt die from cancer was really hard, but when her time came, it was a blessing in that she no longer was sick or in pain and was actually easier to deal with her passing than might have otherwise been.

You still will miss them, knowing they won't be at the other end of the phone or sitting there reading a book or crocheting when you pop in for a visit. But there will always be the memories of the times you shared.

All I can say to MM is to be at peace. Your family will miss you, of course. How could they not? You were such a vibrant and loving mainstay in their lives. In my life, too.  But they will be ok. They will remember all the good times and speak of you with love, waiting until they meet up with you again.

Note: On July 17th, 2008, at approx 11:30 pm EST/DST, this wonderful woman passed away in her sleep. I got the call from her husband at 6:10 this morning. There was so much I wish I could have said to him, but he kept the call very short. But that's even knowing what to say, other than to tell him how sorry I was.

With my son being special needs, I'm not sure how much he understood of his grandma and her illness, other than knowing she was in the hospital being taken care of by doctors and nurses. He knew she wasn't at home. When I told him this morning about his grandma passing away, that she is no longer at the hospital nor had she gone home either, I'm not sure how much he understood of it.  But I do imagine it'll hit him when we go to see grandpa, and she isn't there.  He always called her 'grandma' and my mother was always 'mom's mom'. That's how he saw the two of them.

M had made her wishes quite well known that she did not want a service of any kind when she passed. Just take her from the hospital, take her where she needs to go to be cremated, then put her in her niche. She enjoyed her life, and the visitors that came along, so she didn't want anybody to be standing around moping afterwards in an organized chaotic fashion. That isn't how she lived and she didn't want people to treat their memory of her like that.

One of the people I work with, said this morning of an aunt or his grandmother (I don't remember which) had always said 'give me flowers while I'm alive so that I could enjoy them and have you know I enjoyed them instead of giving me flowers when I'm dead and cannot see the beauty of them'. While I don't ever remember this lady ever saying something like that, she gave you an heirloom to see you enjoy it and treasure it, rather than leave it to you in a will. There would be no joy for either you or her if she did that. And that went for anything and everything she did.

Going to miss you Maw and I will see you again.

Say hi to my Aunt Flo for me please. Oh, get Aunt Flo to tell you about the olive when I was about two. I know you'll roll your eyes, knowing that it would be something I would do haha