Funerals?
Mon., December 8, 08:19 AM
This was very weird. On Friday night in the middle of the snowstorm, I heard something outside and looked through the window, thinking it was a little early for a plow. It wasn’t a plow; it was an ambulance. I watched them take Miss Neighbor – without sirens – which seemed vaguely ominous.
Next morning, first lull in the storm, our snow removers were out there cleaning the drive and the walks. I heard someone tell one of the guys “she died last night.” Oh, dear. I’ll keep picking up her newspaper until someone tells me not to…
Guess who phoned me last night? Uh huh. It’s a good thing I have caller ID – she was calling from the hospital – or I might have said “where are you calling from?” She thanked me for picking up her paper and asked if I would continue to do so until she got around to canceling it. No problem. She mentioned that they’re just checking her out. Sure – so routine that she had to be transported in the middle of a snowstorm. I don’t ask her about her medical issues. I told her I hope to see her soon, though I have some doubts as to whether she’ll be back.
Meanwhile, unfortunately, someone did die – Husband’s cousin George. George was married for many years to Husband’s cousin Alyce, who passed away about twenty years ago. Since Husband was the youngest of the cousins, George must have been twenty years his senior. He was very kind to Husband when he was a kid.
A couple of weeks ago, Husband decided he wanted to visit George, who had gone from senior housing to a nursing home. After much planning and organizing, U.D. managed to bring Husband to spend an hour or two with George. Yesterday, George’s granddaughter phoned to notify us of the funeral arrangements.
George lived a life to celebrate. He was a successful plumber who ran his own business. He was married to Alyce for I don’t know how many years, long enough to raise three kids; he is survived by those kids as well as four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. And he took care of himself so that he enjoyed a long and pleasant retirement. I’ll always remember him fondly, though – last time I saw him – he remembered me not at all. But he was always thrilled to see Husband.
I did most of my holiday correspondence this year. I didn’t do a letter, since the year was comparatively uneventful. I’m always hesitant to write too much; though I was quite friendly with these people once, I don’t know if they’re still where they were a year ago. Some of these people are much older than I.
I’m grateful that:
- Husband got to see George one last time.
- Miss Neighbor is still okay.
- I have contracted snow removers.
