different sorts of things
My great-uncle died on Wednesday, and his wake was on Friday. My family stayed for the entire time because my great aunt and uncle really have/had no other family. I was sad...my great-uncle was a sweet old man, and he reminded me so much of my grandfather, whom I loved dearly (he passed away in 1998). I feel like my whole family is shrinking... Actually, it was the last of my grandfather's side (there are distant cousins in Enfield but we don't have contact with them)...My father's parents, too, are very sick and are preparing to die--last time I went to see them my grandfather was talking about how hard it is to keep on and how tired he is and how things are just burdensome and not pleasurable anymore. My grandmother is severely depressed and has stopped eating and has lost a lot of weight. I expect to be buring them very soon.
On the other hand, my family is growing, in an odd sort of way. We all went to Boston on Saturday to visit my stepdad's son and his fiancee, and we met his (that is, my stepfather's) daughter for the first time, and that was exciting. They are good people, and I enjoy having them around. The fiancee is a lot like me, and she invited me to come down for a weekend and said that she'd take me to tour schools in that area. At first I was resentful of them all, but now I look forward to spending time with them. My mother's family is so spread out, so it's nice to have people close by to have holidays with and everything.
I get to look after their tabby kittens in April for two weeks! The tall one and I went out today and got Pickles a friend (but Pickles tried to take the mouse's face off) who is tiny and black and very docile (he lets me pet him and hold him). I don't know if I can keep him, but he is so sweet.
And lastly, the tall one and I had a lovely evening--we had dinner together at UMass and then went to Mass together. I like going to church, the whole ritual of it, and I think I may even start going regularly (but it will have to be with the tall one, since I have forgotten all the prayers and gestures and such). There were two kids (maybe four years old?) in front of us who were playing sort of peek-a-boo games with us, and when everyone had to do the hand-shaking thing (what is that called?), they gave everyone a high-five instead. :D
On the other hand, my family is growing, in an odd sort of way. We all went to Boston on Saturday to visit my stepdad's son and his fiancee, and we met his (that is, my stepfather's) daughter for the first time, and that was exciting. They are good people, and I enjoy having them around. The fiancee is a lot like me, and she invited me to come down for a weekend and said that she'd take me to tour schools in that area. At first I was resentful of them all, but now I look forward to spending time with them. My mother's family is so spread out, so it's nice to have people close by to have holidays with and everything.
I get to look after their tabby kittens in April for two weeks! The tall one and I went out today and got Pickles a friend (but Pickles tried to take the mouse's face off) who is tiny and black and very docile (he lets me pet him and hold him). I don't know if I can keep him, but he is so sweet.
And lastly, the tall one and I had a lovely evening--we had dinner together at UMass and then went to Mass together. I like going to church, the whole ritual of it, and I think I may even start going regularly (but it will have to be with the tall one, since I have forgotten all the prayers and gestures and such). There were two kids (maybe four years old?) in front of us who were playing sort of peek-a-boo games with us, and when everyone had to do the hand-shaking thing (what is that called?), they gave everyone a high-five instead. :D