Monday Meme

Stolen, with love, from Kwizgiver.
what are your most common nicknames? “Mommy” is the most common one.  Occasionally (though not often), Mr. Chili will call me “babe.”
what is today’s weather? A bit cooler than I’d like, but it’s not supposed to rain!
where did go on vacation this year? The lake, the Cape, and the hospital.
what did [...]

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Compassionate Detachment

Someone I care for very much and with whom I spend a lot of time is, I think, teetering on the brink of a complete systems meltdown.
Peter and I have been friends for nearly forever.  I believe it is true that, excepting blood relatives, he and I have known each other longer than anyone else [...]

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It’s 5:30 Already?!

What the hell happened to today?!
I got up this morning and headed to Mom’s house to help MeadMaker go through some of the stuff there.  We’re trying to get things cleaned up an organized ahead of having appraisers come in to have a look at some of the objects d’art and such things as we [...]

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The Mother’s Angel

Mr. Chili stopped by to visit his parents yesterday afternoon and came home with this.

It was a gift to me from his mother, he said, in honor and rememberance of my mother and her passing.
My first thought is that it was a truly lovely gesture.  I’ve always bristled a bit at my mother-in-law’s attitude toward [...]

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Ashes

Mom died a week ago today.  This afternoon, I made the trip to pick up her ashes.
If any of you is considering cremation as the final disposition of your earthly remains, might I suggest looking into whether your state has a chapter of the Cremation Society?  At Ellie’s suggestion, I signed Mom up for membership [...]

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The Ring

Among other bits and pieces of material things my mother left to me is this beautiful ring.

Wow.  That’s a really shitty picture.  Sorry.
Anyway, the setting was found in a pawn shop by her last husband. The original stone in the center was replaced with what appears to be a 3/4 carat diamond (and it’s [...]

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Ten Things Tuesday

I just couldn’t stay away, you guys.  Blogging has become so much an everyday part of my life that I’m finding that taking the time away is more stressful than writing my daily posts.  Go figure.  So, I’m back.  Didja miss me?
1.  We had a wonderful time at the wedding.  Mr. Chili and I realized [...]

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Sitting Shiva

I love the idea of taking time to mourn.  Though I am not Jewish, the tradition of sitting shiva really appeals to me; I think it’s important to not only recognize one’s grief, but to make room for it, as well.
I’ve decided to take some time off from writing here to be with my friends [...]

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“There; She is Gone”

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at [...]

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Quick Hit; From the Side of the Deathbed

I have the unshakable impression of a toddler who is overtired, but who refuses to go to sleep.
My mother is on nearly the maximum doseage of meds she can have. She’s not aware or lucid. She’s moaning with every exhalation. We’re all wishing that she, like the toddler, would just relax and drift off…

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