I have eaten chocolate ice cream and chocolate truffles and lemon ice cream…

…and I still miss Grandmom.

Today is Broken Ankle Day.

It’s strange, how one single step could have changed not just my life permanently, but also the lives of others so drastically.

For me, there is the obvious change–I live with regular aches and pains associated with the hardware that remains screwed into my bones.

But it was the other, less obvious changes, that had an even greater impact.

After I returned home from the hospital, it was glaringly obvious that Michael couldn’t take care of me and help Grandmom with her day-to-day things. So on the 16th, she packed some bags and my parents drove her to my aunt’s house, where we figured she’d stay until I was (literally) back on my feet.

Then Grandmom fell and broke her femur, and things changed yet again.

She spent months in rehab, and we were suddenly traveling to the DC area every three to four weeks. We eventually realized that Grandmom wouldn’t be coming back to live with us, and that meant changes for my aunt and uncle, as they arranged their home and lives for her.

I never thought, that Friday evening, as a grabbed my camera and went out to take some pictures of flowers, that my life would change so drastically with a single step.

And that’s what I try to remember today. Not the pain, not missing Grandmom (well, ok, there is that), but the realization that things can change in an instant. We cannot fully control our lives, and we can never take back things once they have happened.

We can only accept them–the good and the bad–and move on, making the best of what we have.

After all, if Grandmom hadn’t been in VA, I’d never have taken my two favorite pictures of her, and my memories of those days.

So, on Broken Ankle Day, I have no regrets, only acceptance.

I love you and miss you Grandmom.

Let me help you up Aunt Michelle!

Yes, I did give the camera to Michael, so you get somewhat rare pictures of me.

Except for the last picture, I am NOT in the last picture.

(more…)

Friday we took the day off to visit my family who were spending the week in Blackwater Falls. The skies were grey, and it was rainy, but we were there to see my family, so that didn’t much matter.

(more…)

One year ago today, my cousin Ben died while climbing in Peru.

I didn’t learn he was missing until two weeks later, and then there were three long miserable days until his body was discovered.

It took another week and a half after his body was recovered to return him to the US and bury him.

After all this time, I’m still mad at him, and probably always will be to some small degree. But the anger isn’t the greatest part of what I feel.

 
 
If you love somebody,
Better tell them while they’re here, ’cause
They just may run away from you
You’ll never know what went well
Then again it just depends on
How long a time is left for you
I’ve had the highest mountains
I’ve had the deepest rivers
You can have it all but life keeps moving
Now take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
‘Waiting for this for a while now,
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for awhile, ‘ay
Take it with me if I can,
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world

I’ve tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on fallin’ short of something
I coulda’ gave up then, but
Then again I couldn’t have, ’cause
I’ve traveled all this way for something
Now take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
‘Waiting for this for a while now,
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for awhile, ‘ay
Take it with me if I can,
Been dreaming of this since a child

And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down
And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now
And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down
And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now

My cousin Eric and his family are preparing to leave the country for three years.

We did have a good time, on my last visit with him before they leave.

James does NOT enjoy group pictures.

But he wasn’t All Grumpy All the Time.

Sally will turn two momentarily. And in another blink of an eye she’ll be five.

But, this is not a goodbye, this is a see you later…

A birthday party for Jules turning 3 and Brian turning 38.

Guess who got all the attention?

If you’ve ever considered getting a waterproof camera, here are some possible reasons why you should do so.

I also recommend getting a float for your waterproof camera.

Oh, OK. Fine. Here’s a picture of the birthday boy as well:

I have to go to a funeral this afternoon; my wish for the new year is not to have to go to any funerals for the whole year. Especially closed casket funerals for people who are younger than I am.

So, cheer me (and everyone else) up. What makes you happy?

Today Jules came over and we made and decorated sugar cookies!

Tried something new this year, edible tempera paint:

But we still iced cookies the regular way as well.

Thank you, to those who have served, who are currently serving, and to their families.

Thank you.

Today and tomorrow are the Days of the Dead, a time for remembering those who have died.

I’ve lost quite a few loved ones in the past couple years, so I’m going to take these two days to remember funny stories, and I offer this place to gather to remember your own loved ones who have died in recent years.

The easiest funny stories for me are those of Grandmom. She had no qualms about being silly and ridiculous, which is something I try to remember–what is dignity worth when you could instead be making someone laugh?

Here’s a Grandmom story, that seems good for today.

When her older sister, Sophie, died, she helped her nephew deal with the arrangements and went to the funeral home with him.

We’d arrived at her house while she was still out with her nephew, and when she came in, she was laughing at herself–apparently, many things she thought ridiculous had transpired, and they were coming home, she thought to herself, “I can’t wait to call Sophie and tell her this!” She then realized what a ridiculous thought that was and couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

I think that’s the best lesson for me to remember–if you try really hard, you can almost always find something to laugh at.

Michelle: DAMNIT! I’m HUNGRY! We don’t have any snacks! Why don’t we have anything to eat?! This is ENTIRELY your fault. Because you do the grocery shopping. Alone. Entirely unassisted by me.
Michael: It’s because I don’t trust you to get healthy food.

…and Michael wins again.

(Since it’s not necessarily obvious, we go grocery shopping together. I choose the food and he comes along to entertain me and pick up things like chicken and fish, because handling even wrapped packages squicks me out, and I spend the rest of the trip rubbing my hands on my pants trying to “clean” them.

Also, Michael claims to hate vegetables and could happily live on peanut butter sandwiches.)