I'm here at my mother's house. When my sister walked in an hour after I arrived, it felt strange. Generally, seeing family who live so far away involves months of planning and anticipation. Instead, here I am, and here they are, and none of us were planning on being here a week ago. It makes things feel very raw and somehow unproofed.
Here is a tribute to how rushed this whole thing has been: this morning, a couple hours before my flight, I was at the Goodwill, searching in vain when I called my mom. "Mom, do people still have to wear black to a funeral." "Yes, you're coming in at 9:20 right?" We talked about every other thing until I almost hung up on her after 10 minutes, and as soon as I hung up I thought "Did she say 'Yes' or 'No'?"
I've never had such a desperate race through the Ballard Goodwill. It was early enough on a Saturday morning that when I charged out of the dressing room, ready to demand some feedback, there wasn't even an employee there to help me never mind the nurturing, frugal earth-mama I was hoping for! (Let the record show that I am not very good at looking in a mirror and having any idea what I actually look like.) I was there for 45 minutes and had just washed my hair, but the effect of lifting dozens of synthetic blouses, sweaters and dresses (In various shades of black, chocolate and grey) over my head resulted in a charge so strong I thought I might pass out when I touched the door handle of the Little Red Wagon.
Never the less, I made it. Tomorrow we'll go collect as a huge group and do something Catholic together, and it makes me terribly lonely for my darling husband, who kept me company through the late night laundry/packing marathon. I needn't tell you that it was HE who looked up Goodwill's opening hours for a Saturday when I was at the end of my childcare-wardrobe-rope.
This is the first time I'm going to Tenant's Harbor:
In about 10 years.
Expecting to drink a beer there.
With a driver's license.
In the winter.
To stay in a business establishment instead of a home.
Whew. I say again Whe- hew.
updates to follow.
2 comments:
Hang in there. I'm thinking of you. See you when you return.
it was amazing how you did all drop everything and help us come together for grampa! my brothers and sisters have all told me how much that meant to them, this loving support.
thank you again for everything!
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