Who Knew?
After a couple of days of deep depression, the final pieces of the jigsaw fell into place. I finally spoke to 'Ruth' the executor of the will.
It turns out ... she is Aunty's sister's daugher from the other side of the family. We had a good 90 minute chat on the phone (international on the cell phone. ouch). Her memories of my aunt are understandably very similar to mine, including that aunty was very accepting and even celebratory of her sexuality. Yes indeed, my cousin is a lesbian!
She can't believe the current state of affairs, and wants to partner with me as next of kin to finish off the work I did. She thinks I made all the right decisions and wouldnt have changed a thing. She thanked me for looking after Aunty, and we cried a little.
The cremation will proceed as I had planned. I will take the ashes back with me in August and we will have a memorial service - "A big pink funeral to celebrate the best fag hag there ever was" and I kid you not.
It looks like the will leaves everything to Marion and ass-hole boyfriend, but frankly I don't care. By time we've paid other people to take care of everything I was previously willing to do myself, there won't be anything left anyway.
I may have lost an Aunt, but I gained a friend (Judy) and a cousin (Ruth) - and we're all gayer than a 3-dollar-bill!
Now.... I am ready to go home and be with Pony and the zoo.
It turns out ... she is Aunty's sister's daugher from the other side of the family. We had a good 90 minute chat on the phone (international on the cell phone. ouch). Her memories of my aunt are understandably very similar to mine, including that aunty was very accepting and even celebratory of her sexuality. Yes indeed, my cousin is a lesbian!
She can't believe the current state of affairs, and wants to partner with me as next of kin to finish off the work I did. She thinks I made all the right decisions and wouldnt have changed a thing. She thanked me for looking after Aunty, and we cried a little.
The cremation will proceed as I had planned. I will take the ashes back with me in August and we will have a memorial service - "A big pink funeral to celebrate the best fag hag there ever was" and I kid you not.
It looks like the will leaves everything to Marion and ass-hole boyfriend, but frankly I don't care. By time we've paid other people to take care of everything I was previously willing to do myself, there won't be anything left anyway.
I may have lost an Aunt, but I gained a friend (Judy) and a cousin (Ruth) - and we're all gayer than a 3-dollar-bill!
Now.... I am ready to go home and be with Pony and the zoo.