Dear Ben Cross (Letter #22)
Dear Ben,
I hope you're having a great day!
I haven't written in a few days. It's been a long few days.
I travelled for the funeral to Kimberly, BC and stayed at my friend's parents house. It was a good trip as my friend accompanied me. We had a good trip and talked for most of the way. But it made the trip 'shorter' if you know what I mean.
We stopped at my my mom's which is about half way there. I picked up the dvds my uncle left me. There are a lot of them and evidently there are more. I want to catalogue them and make sure that I know which ones were from him. I briefly went through them and there are a couple I wanted to buy. There are some that I don't know whether I want to watch, but I may give it an effort some time.
We left, visited my mom's bf and then headed out on the road. Arriving in Kimberly was a bit surreal. I swear to you that going to that town is like stepping into a time bubble. It has remained virtually untouched from when I was a child. Clearly a few things have changed. But essentially everything there existed 40 years ago. I kid you not.
I had a bit of upset when I saw my Uncle's old house. I don't know what other people are like but grief for me comes and goes. I can be fine for hours and then I'll cry. That's the way it is. I felt really sentimental all weekend.
It was great visiting my friend's parents. It's wierd how when you are a child and teenager that you don't really see adults as people. We are so narcissistic we are when we are very young. It's strange how my point of view has changed.
On Saturday I went to the cemetery to visit my dad's resting place. His ashes are in a wall. I decorated it with flowers that I brought and took a photo. I also adorned my grandma and grandpa's grave with flowers.
There was a stroke of luck. A worker was in the area and as he was leaving in his truck (he had his window open and had slowed coming out the gate) I asked him if he would know where my uncle would have been buried as I didn't want to spend a lot of time looking as we still had to get ready and go to his service that early afternoon. The worker didn't know but went to City Hall (as he had been buried the day before) and got the information for us. It's very fortunate that the worker was so accommodating as we would have never have found the grave site. The government buried him and there was no marker. The sod was over the grave and you couldn't tell anything had disturbed the place.
I set flowers at the gravesite and took a photo (of grass). We will put a marker on the spot soon.
We had to rush to get ready and get to Cranbrook for the service. It was very nice. I thought I might be able to get through the service but I ended up crying through the entire thing. It was kind of funny as kleenex was being thrown over my shoulder and from beside me. Had to be there.
I studiously avoided my sister which avoided a lot of conflict. Her baby is very cute and her husband/bf/whatever has a magnificent mane of hair. He's very shy. I even got along with my mom for the most part.
My friend and I went back to Kimberly and she, her parents and I went for a walk around townsite. It was very nice to see my grandparent's old home and other sights. There are places in Kimberly that I have literally visited in my dreams. The platzl, Bavarian News and the clinic mainly. Weird hey?
I had the crappiest night's sleep ever on Saturday. I was initially cold and then my mind wouldn't stop.
Sunday we went to Cranbrook and had lunch with my mom and her friend and then we headed out. It was a longish drive home as I was tired. I didn't stay at my friend's house just went home. My eyes were heavy. It was a tiny bit concerning as I had an hour's drive. Made it home safe and sound though.
Got to work at a good time this morning.
Also, NEWS!! I started singing lessons today! It's wonderful :)
That's all for today. Talk to you soon!
Gail
I hope you're having a great day!
I haven't written in a few days. It's been a long few days.
I travelled for the funeral to Kimberly, BC and stayed at my friend's parents house. It was a good trip as my friend accompanied me. We had a good trip and talked for most of the way. But it made the trip 'shorter' if you know what I mean.
We stopped at my my mom's which is about half way there. I picked up the dvds my uncle left me. There are a lot of them and evidently there are more. I want to catalogue them and make sure that I know which ones were from him. I briefly went through them and there are a couple I wanted to buy. There are some that I don't know whether I want to watch, but I may give it an effort some time.
We left, visited my mom's bf and then headed out on the road. Arriving in Kimberly was a bit surreal. I swear to you that going to that town is like stepping into a time bubble. It has remained virtually untouched from when I was a child. Clearly a few things have changed. But essentially everything there existed 40 years ago. I kid you not.
I had a bit of upset when I saw my Uncle's old house. I don't know what other people are like but grief for me comes and goes. I can be fine for hours and then I'll cry. That's the way it is. I felt really sentimental all weekend.
It was great visiting my friend's parents. It's wierd how when you are a child and teenager that you don't really see adults as people. We are so narcissistic we are when we are very young. It's strange how my point of view has changed.
On Saturday I went to the cemetery to visit my dad's resting place. His ashes are in a wall. I decorated it with flowers that I brought and took a photo. I also adorned my grandma and grandpa's grave with flowers.
There was a stroke of luck. A worker was in the area and as he was leaving in his truck (he had his window open and had slowed coming out the gate) I asked him if he would know where my uncle would have been buried as I didn't want to spend a lot of time looking as we still had to get ready and go to his service that early afternoon. The worker didn't know but went to City Hall (as he had been buried the day before) and got the information for us. It's very fortunate that the worker was so accommodating as we would have never have found the grave site. The government buried him and there was no marker. The sod was over the grave and you couldn't tell anything had disturbed the place.
I set flowers at the gravesite and took a photo (of grass). We will put a marker on the spot soon.
We had to rush to get ready and get to Cranbrook for the service. It was very nice. I thought I might be able to get through the service but I ended up crying through the entire thing. It was kind of funny as kleenex was being thrown over my shoulder and from beside me. Had to be there.
I studiously avoided my sister which avoided a lot of conflict. Her baby is very cute and her husband/bf/whatever has a magnificent mane of hair. He's very shy. I even got along with my mom for the most part.
My friend and I went back to Kimberly and she, her parents and I went for a walk around townsite. It was very nice to see my grandparent's old home and other sights. There are places in Kimberly that I have literally visited in my dreams. The platzl, Bavarian News and the clinic mainly. Weird hey?
I had the crappiest night's sleep ever on Saturday. I was initially cold and then my mind wouldn't stop.
Sunday we went to Cranbrook and had lunch with my mom and her friend and then we headed out. It was a longish drive home as I was tired. I didn't stay at my friend's house just went home. My eyes were heavy. It was a tiny bit concerning as I had an hour's drive. Made it home safe and sound though.
Got to work at a good time this morning.
Also, NEWS!! I started singing lessons today! It's wonderful :)
That's all for today. Talk to you soon!
Gail