Part Deux
So I ran out of time whilst discussing the "What Happened To Me This Year" neo-modern dramedy. Thus, this is part two of the whole mess.
Some time back in February (or January; can't quite remember now), my grandma broke her hip. Well, this started a shitload of stress for Mom. Up until the accident, Grandma had been caring for Grandpa (who's been on oxygen support for quite a while now) with help every now and then from the family. After the accident, Mom, my aunts, and my selfish bastard of an uncle were at odds with one another trying to figure out who would care for their parents. They couldn't really afford a nurse, but the only one without a job who could move in to help out was my uncle, and it was "too much work for him". So Mom and her sisters put them in a nursing home, and each one helped to pay for their care. This has caused bad blood between Mom and Luscill, but actually, this should have happened years before now because he's always being a nasty fuck. Hell, the fat bastard even molested his sisters when they were all little, and it was swept under the rug because he was my grandparents "precious sonny boy". Meh.
Being the oldest, Mom had to deal with talks of selling their childhood home, wills, and whatnot. She'd been happy when the talks ceased, and she thought they were getting better (they even returned home). However, this was short-lived because it was evident that Grandma could no longer care for Grandpa, and her health was getting worse. So back to Manderley they went.
The end of May comes along, and after going quite a while without checking my email, something in my head clicked, and I was struck with the determination to sit down and log on. Good thing I did because I noticed a very recent email from Dad talking about Grandma being in Christ Hospital down in Cincinnati.
My mistake, here. I'd been meaning to give Dad my phone number when we moved, but I kept getting too busy to do so (with the kids' schools still in session at the time), so the only way he could get in touch with me was via email. Really though, it's not as if I could have gotten down there in time to see her, and with the way Mom's family works, I doubt I would have been allowed in, so sitting around waiting for her to die was pointless. To me, anyway. What could I have changed?
In any case, her death got me speaking with one of my older brothers again. Phil wasn't too pleased with the way things went. Mom was too distraught (or something) to place phone calls to us, her own kids (although she was able to call others in the family -- family with looser ties than us), so Aunt Dana was put to the task (my phone call came from Dad, who wasn't fond of his former mother-in-law anyway). Phil and I were left out of things, and as for Jim...dammit, I can't really remember clearly, but I think he was at work while all of this was going on.
The wonderful thing is that when Grandma broke her hip, apparently, the small shitacular hospital she went to didn't bother to check thoroughly, and all of those months before she died, she had internal injuries from the fall. Great.
Went to her visitation down in Osgood. I hadn't been through that town in nearly 6 years. Some things have changed, a lot hasn't (such as the locals crashing family events if they think they can score something for free). I saw people at that funeral...I have no fucking clue as to whom they are. Sadly, it seems that these events are the only damn time I get to see my great-aunt Esther (Dad's aunt) with whom I am the closest in either family (odd fact: she's my dad's aunt, and she dates my mom's uncle Earl). Of course, Jim was the last to show up (having to come from Bloomington and work) with his family, and as always, he is the epitome of perfection and propriety while Phil and I seem to be looked upon as immature losers. Phil was dressed casually, I opted for something black and not-so-warm on a hot day, and Jim looked like he was going to officiate the fucking funeral in that suit of his (even his wife was dressed casually, Christ). And to conclude the entertaining evening, I watched as Jim seemed to be throwing a "Who's Got The Bigger Dick" contest with Phil concerning the intelligence of their children. I guess I'm the only one with average (or less than average) kids. Hooray.
I was going to go to the funeral the following morning, but Devin's bus was very late, and there was no way we could get down to Osgood before 10am (everything would be over). Eh, Phil didn't stick around for the get-together afterward, and it's not as if I felt like hanging around Jim, "Mr. Seriousness". My IQ drops 100 points whenever I'm in his presence.
Mom sold her childhood home recently, so no more huge family holidays in that cramped house. I wonder what we'll do now?
In the midst of all of this, Grandpa tripped over his oxygen cord in the nursing home while trying to help a friend, and he hurt his hip, too. Unfortunately, the doctors discovered that his cancer is back, and he doesn't have very long either. Two grandparents gone in the span of a few months. No more grandparents for me (I never really knew Dad's parents as they died when I was little).
Won't be much longer, and my brothers and I will be doing this shit for our own parents. Jesus. Do they also get up in the morning, look at themselves in the mirror, and wonder, "When did I get so old?"
Most of my peers (like Jeremy) have parents who just turned 50 (or are approaching 50), so they don't have these concerns yet. This is what happens when everyone is so much older than you. I really am the baby of the goddamn family.
Some time back in February (or January; can't quite remember now), my grandma broke her hip. Well, this started a shitload of stress for Mom. Up until the accident, Grandma had been caring for Grandpa (who's been on oxygen support for quite a while now) with help every now and then from the family. After the accident, Mom, my aunts, and my selfish bastard of an uncle were at odds with one another trying to figure out who would care for their parents. They couldn't really afford a nurse, but the only one without a job who could move in to help out was my uncle, and it was "too much work for him". So Mom and her sisters put them in a nursing home, and each one helped to pay for their care. This has caused bad blood between Mom and Luscill, but actually, this should have happened years before now because he's always being a nasty fuck. Hell, the fat bastard even molested his sisters when they were all little, and it was swept under the rug because he was my grandparents "precious sonny boy". Meh.
Being the oldest, Mom had to deal with talks of selling their childhood home, wills, and whatnot. She'd been happy when the talks ceased, and she thought they were getting better (they even returned home). However, this was short-lived because it was evident that Grandma could no longer care for Grandpa, and her health was getting worse. So back to Manderley they went.
The end of May comes along, and after going quite a while without checking my email, something in my head clicked, and I was struck with the determination to sit down and log on. Good thing I did because I noticed a very recent email from Dad talking about Grandma being in Christ Hospital down in Cincinnati.
My mistake, here. I'd been meaning to give Dad my phone number when we moved, but I kept getting too busy to do so (with the kids' schools still in session at the time), so the only way he could get in touch with me was via email. Really though, it's not as if I could have gotten down there in time to see her, and with the way Mom's family works, I doubt I would have been allowed in, so sitting around waiting for her to die was pointless. To me, anyway. What could I have changed?
In any case, her death got me speaking with one of my older brothers again. Phil wasn't too pleased with the way things went. Mom was too distraught (or something) to place phone calls to us, her own kids (although she was able to call others in the family -- family with looser ties than us), so Aunt Dana was put to the task (my phone call came from Dad, who wasn't fond of his former mother-in-law anyway). Phil and I were left out of things, and as for Jim...dammit, I can't really remember clearly, but I think he was at work while all of this was going on.
The wonderful thing is that when Grandma broke her hip, apparently, the small shitacular hospital she went to didn't bother to check thoroughly, and all of those months before she died, she had internal injuries from the fall. Great.
Went to her visitation down in Osgood. I hadn't been through that town in nearly 6 years. Some things have changed, a lot hasn't (such as the locals crashing family events if they think they can score something for free). I saw people at that funeral...I have no fucking clue as to whom they are. Sadly, it seems that these events are the only damn time I get to see my great-aunt Esther (Dad's aunt) with whom I am the closest in either family (odd fact: she's my dad's aunt, and she dates my mom's uncle Earl). Of course, Jim was the last to show up (having to come from Bloomington and work) with his family, and as always, he is the epitome of perfection and propriety while Phil and I seem to be looked upon as immature losers. Phil was dressed casually, I opted for something black and not-so-warm on a hot day, and Jim looked like he was going to officiate the fucking funeral in that suit of his (even his wife was dressed casually, Christ). And to conclude the entertaining evening, I watched as Jim seemed to be throwing a "Who's Got The Bigger Dick" contest with Phil concerning the intelligence of their children. I guess I'm the only one with average (or less than average) kids. Hooray.
I was going to go to the funeral the following morning, but Devin's bus was very late, and there was no way we could get down to Osgood before 10am (everything would be over). Eh, Phil didn't stick around for the get-together afterward, and it's not as if I felt like hanging around Jim, "Mr. Seriousness". My IQ drops 100 points whenever I'm in his presence.
Mom sold her childhood home recently, so no more huge family holidays in that cramped house. I wonder what we'll do now?
In the midst of all of this, Grandpa tripped over his oxygen cord in the nursing home while trying to help a friend, and he hurt his hip, too. Unfortunately, the doctors discovered that his cancer is back, and he doesn't have very long either. Two grandparents gone in the span of a few months. No more grandparents for me (I never really knew Dad's parents as they died when I was little).
Won't be much longer, and my brothers and I will be doing this shit for our own parents. Jesus. Do they also get up in the morning, look at themselves in the mirror, and wonder, "When did I get so old?"
Most of my peers (like Jeremy) have parents who just turned 50 (or are approaching 50), so they don't have these concerns yet. This is what happens when everyone is so much older than you. I really am the baby of the goddamn family.