An Emotional Weekend
Well, this has been quite a weekend.
Yesterday was Natalie's bachelorette party. Friday night I baked penis cupcakes and yesterday morning I frosted them (quite a messy process that led to several injured penises). The party was FANTASTIC! Everyone gathered at about 3:30 at the bride's house (the group included her mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law) where played several games. Lots of laughs were had. The mothers provided for much of the amusement. Around 6:30 we left for Opa on Miami Beach. Holy crap I LOVE that restaurant. The food was good, the waiters hot, the music jammin'. I danced up on the table with most of the other girls and our cute waiter. Another bachelorette party sat behind us, but we were bigger, prettier, and loads more fun. (Or so I must say in the bachelorette party wars.) Some pictures from the night may be shared at some point. But not all, as what happens at Opa stays at Opa. I got such a kick out of dancing on the table that it was quite anti-climatic that we didn't go to a bar or club afterward.
Instead, we headed back to Nat's house where we sat around the kitchen gabbing and munching on penises. Around midnight the party broke. The groom's mother and sister needed a ride home, so I obliged as they're on my way home. As we're approaching, Lauren, the sister (she's 17) decides she wants to go in as though she's wasted. Her brother and a couple of our guy friends (groomsmen who are as protective of Lauren as if she truly were their little sister) were home. So, Lauren walks in barefoot being supported by me. We bang into the house and go straight to the bathroom. The look I saw on Eddie's face was priceless. As Lauren and I suppress laughter and make it appear as though she's puking her brains out, her mom talks to the guys about what will make her feel better. I pop out saying that Lauren is asking for her mom. We commiserate in the bathroom - hoping that the guys will come around so that we can do a scene in the bathroom. They don't so then we all pop out inquiring where our Oscars are.
Of course, they all tried to say that they weren't believing it. (Manny said he hoped it was true because that would speak to the quality of the party. HA! Like we need to get hammered to enjoy ourselves!)
We then hung out and made the guys uncomfortable by sharing tiny bits of the party happenings. Then playing of guitar hero ensued. I merely observed. It was quite entertaining seeing everyone play. I had a great time.
I got home about 2:30ish to see that the voice mail light was blinking on the house phone and my dad was asleep. I almost went to bed without checking, but figured I should in case it was important. It was my mom. My uncle, her older brother, is in the ICU and not far from death. For those of you who don't know, my uncle suffered a bad aneurysm about 10 or 11 years ago that landed him in a nursing home ever since. Back then, it was bad, but he was still in pretty good shape. He recognized everyone and had a pretty good memory of some things. Needless to say, over the years his condition deteriorated. Sometime Thursday it was discovered that he developed an infection in his lungs. (He's had problems swallowing and apparently a bit of food that he swallowed traveled to his lungs, causing the infection.) He was put on antibiotics, an IV, and oxygen by a home care doctor. When his condition didn't improve overnight, he was taken to the hospital ICU on Friday. He was so bad that they though that he wouldn't make it through last night. His condition is now stable, but he won't be getting better. He's only alive because of the machines supporting him.
Needless to say, my mom isn't coming home on Tuesday. She's staying at least another 2-1/2 weeks. While I'm sad by the news, as is everyone, I'm more concerned about the chain of events likely to follow his death. My mom has long said that whoever dies first out of my uncle and grandmother (she's in excellent health, but is 85) the other is likely to follow not long after. Everyone now is praying for a peaceful rest for my uncle. My mom also wants to be there for my grandmother. While she's holding up pretty well given the circumstances, my mom is afraid of how she'll be once he passes. Now that he is stabilized, there's no telling when he'll die. I hope that it's sooner rather than later. He's been suffering for so long that he deserves peace soon.
Today I've had that on my mind and also mixture of happy thoughts, which of course I feel guilty about. Whenever someone is going through something like this, it's such a weird place to be. You feel sad, but at the same time wanting to go about everything like normal. But you feel guilty (well, I do). In this case I feel guilty that I'm not more saddened simply by my uncle's condition alone. But he wasn't as large a part of my life as other relatives in Brazil have been mainly because when he was involved, I was too little to remember it now. Then he moved into the background and then, for the last 10 years, he's been in a nursing home.
Tougher will be if my mom's prediction comes true. That my grandmother passes not long after my uncle. Who knows what that time frame would be like. But not only will her passing be difficult for my mom, the potential impact on certain relatives in Brazil will be...interesting, for lack of a better word. The impact will be felt harder by people other than my mom. And my mom, of course, will be frustrated by her inability to help because of the distance (assuming she's here, of course). You have no idea how glad I'm that the timing of my uncle's situation makes me. I'm glad that my mom was already in Brazil so that she could be there to comfort and support her mom.
Le sigh.
On an unrelated note, I just finished reading the sixth HP book, which is depressing. Though I'm also frustrated. Rowling has done a good job of making you unsure of whether Snape can truly be trusted. With every scene he's in, I debate it and find arguments for both sides. I also hope that in book 7, Harry and Ginny get back together. I like them as a couple. I also hope that book 7 showcases Ron and Hermimone's relationship a bit as well. (Yes, I realize that their romantic affairs are not the central point to the plot, but I can't help it. The pairings are so interesting. It's what you miss out on in the movies - the dynamics in the relationships of all the characters, big and small.)
And that is my weekend for you. Quite a mix of emotion. Here's to another joyous week. Cheers.
Yesterday was Natalie's bachelorette party. Friday night I baked penis cupcakes and yesterday morning I frosted them (quite a messy process that led to several injured penises). The party was FANTASTIC! Everyone gathered at about 3:30 at the bride's house (the group included her mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law) where played several games. Lots of laughs were had. The mothers provided for much of the amusement. Around 6:30 we left for Opa on Miami Beach. Holy crap I LOVE that restaurant. The food was good, the waiters hot, the music jammin'. I danced up on the table with most of the other girls and our cute waiter. Another bachelorette party sat behind us, but we were bigger, prettier, and loads more fun. (Or so I must say in the bachelorette party wars.) Some pictures from the night may be shared at some point. But not all, as what happens at Opa stays at Opa. I got such a kick out of dancing on the table that it was quite anti-climatic that we didn't go to a bar or club afterward.
Instead, we headed back to Nat's house where we sat around the kitchen gabbing and munching on penises. Around midnight the party broke. The groom's mother and sister needed a ride home, so I obliged as they're on my way home. As we're approaching, Lauren, the sister (she's 17) decides she wants to go in as though she's wasted. Her brother and a couple of our guy friends (groomsmen who are as protective of Lauren as if she truly were their little sister) were home. So, Lauren walks in barefoot being supported by me. We bang into the house and go straight to the bathroom. The look I saw on Eddie's face was priceless. As Lauren and I suppress laughter and make it appear as though she's puking her brains out, her mom talks to the guys about what will make her feel better. I pop out saying that Lauren is asking for her mom. We commiserate in the bathroom - hoping that the guys will come around so that we can do a scene in the bathroom. They don't so then we all pop out inquiring where our Oscars are.
Of course, they all tried to say that they weren't believing it. (Manny said he hoped it was true because that would speak to the quality of the party. HA! Like we need to get hammered to enjoy ourselves!)
We then hung out and made the guys uncomfortable by sharing tiny bits of the party happenings. Then playing of guitar hero ensued. I merely observed. It was quite entertaining seeing everyone play. I had a great time.
I got home about 2:30ish to see that the voice mail light was blinking on the house phone and my dad was asleep. I almost went to bed without checking, but figured I should in case it was important. It was my mom. My uncle, her older brother, is in the ICU and not far from death. For those of you who don't know, my uncle suffered a bad aneurysm about 10 or 11 years ago that landed him in a nursing home ever since. Back then, it was bad, but he was still in pretty good shape. He recognized everyone and had a pretty good memory of some things. Needless to say, over the years his condition deteriorated. Sometime Thursday it was discovered that he developed an infection in his lungs. (He's had problems swallowing and apparently a bit of food that he swallowed traveled to his lungs, causing the infection.) He was put on antibiotics, an IV, and oxygen by a home care doctor. When his condition didn't improve overnight, he was taken to the hospital ICU on Friday. He was so bad that they though that he wouldn't make it through last night. His condition is now stable, but he won't be getting better. He's only alive because of the machines supporting him.
Needless to say, my mom isn't coming home on Tuesday. She's staying at least another 2-1/2 weeks. While I'm sad by the news, as is everyone, I'm more concerned about the chain of events likely to follow his death. My mom has long said that whoever dies first out of my uncle and grandmother (she's in excellent health, but is 85) the other is likely to follow not long after. Everyone now is praying for a peaceful rest for my uncle. My mom also wants to be there for my grandmother. While she's holding up pretty well given the circumstances, my mom is afraid of how she'll be once he passes. Now that he is stabilized, there's no telling when he'll die. I hope that it's sooner rather than later. He's been suffering for so long that he deserves peace soon.
Today I've had that on my mind and also mixture of happy thoughts, which of course I feel guilty about. Whenever someone is going through something like this, it's such a weird place to be. You feel sad, but at the same time wanting to go about everything like normal. But you feel guilty (well, I do). In this case I feel guilty that I'm not more saddened simply by my uncle's condition alone. But he wasn't as large a part of my life as other relatives in Brazil have been mainly because when he was involved, I was too little to remember it now. Then he moved into the background and then, for the last 10 years, he's been in a nursing home.
Tougher will be if my mom's prediction comes true. That my grandmother passes not long after my uncle. Who knows what that time frame would be like. But not only will her passing be difficult for my mom, the potential impact on certain relatives in Brazil will be...interesting, for lack of a better word. The impact will be felt harder by people other than my mom. And my mom, of course, will be frustrated by her inability to help because of the distance (assuming she's here, of course). You have no idea how glad I'm that the timing of my uncle's situation makes me. I'm glad that my mom was already in Brazil so that she could be there to comfort and support her mom.
Le sigh.
On an unrelated note, I just finished reading the sixth HP book, which is depressing. Though I'm also frustrated. Rowling has done a good job of making you unsure of whether Snape can truly be trusted. With every scene he's in, I debate it and find arguments for both sides. I also hope that in book 7, Harry and Ginny get back together. I like them as a couple. I also hope that book 7 showcases Ron and Hermimone's relationship a bit as well. (Yes, I realize that their romantic affairs are not the central point to the plot, but I can't help it. The pairings are so interesting. It's what you miss out on in the movies - the dynamics in the relationships of all the characters, big and small.)
And that is my weekend for you. Quite a mix of emotion. Here's to another joyous week. Cheers.