The Holidays
Happy New Year's Eve! It's 3:29 so almost time to go pick Em up at work but I thought I'd try to get one more post in for 2006.
It's been a mixed bag this past week or so. We've had a problem from the last week of school hanging on over the holidays and it's taken a definate turn for the worse today!! Lots of calls and emails and we have one or two meetings this week. Not nice.
Add to that a call from Dimps Stevens from Galiano two days ago that her brother, Greig, was fading and not expected to last much longer. I picked her up at the ferry, dropper her off at the Sunset Lodge and did a few errands then popped back to the Lodge after dinner. I didn't like her to be there all alone. I sat with her for a few hours and then she decided to come home with me as there was very little to be done. He died about an hour after we'd left and she was happy not to have been there at the end. Lots of memories of Mum and Mo were stirred up, but not bad ones. Just life and death and that it's ok to die and it can be gentle and slow. Just a wearing down of the machinery till it stops. Yesteday we spent organizing funerals and picking out coffins and flower sprays and what not. Now that was strange! They are planning a graveside service next weekend which I think Brig and I will attend. More for Dimps than Greig, because I didn't know him that well. We'd do just about anything for Dimps, as most of you know! It added a unique atmosphere to the week, I can tell you. Not bad -- sad, yes -- but it isn't bad to be reminded that we are all dying (not easy for you youngsters to hear?). Greig had Down Syndrome and he lived to be 58 which is much, much longer than most! He was well loved and cared for by his family. The Lodge is run by the Salvation Army and they were really lovely to us, let alone Greig. I had more hugs that past two days at that place, they were so sad about his death. There are certainly worse ways to go, let me tell you.
So, as I head into 2007, I am feeling very grounded about life (lots of babies and young children at my school) and death (being with Greig this past few days) and everything in between! I hope that you are all reflecting over the past year with as much thoughtful joy as I am!
Much love to you all,
Penny