I'm not in the mood for "Shopping News" which is such a puff piece that Matt & Meridith didn't even show up to pretend to give a damn. Nor do I want to hear about the So Cal Santa gunman who burnt down the house, because it's horrific and sad ~ pass! Nor do I want to hear about any soul-searching, I've had enough introspective time this past week. I'm sure I'll get back to these stories later on, but for today... I don't have the energy, strength or want-to for any of these things.
You see, I spent a majority of the week dealing with my hubby's family; because his brother ended his 9+ year battle with MS. It was both highly depressing and a relief all at the same time. The poor man had been in a nursing home for 8 years. He is most definitely in a better place.
But, I had huge issues dealing with it all, because I was enduring all the quirks and emotions of his family, when I didn't make it home for my own grandmother's funeral, in New Jersey. Had I, I would have dealt with my own family and their particular Shade of Crazy. This was a completely different brand of lunacy. Although, there were enough similarities to give me some unexpected closure for Gran.
For example... once again, there were cameras snapping away in the funeral home. Yep. But this time, it was more than one person, and they were taking pics of the open casket. I just sat stunned and appalled as I watched this paparazzi-circus go on in front of my own two eyes.
On the plus side, the family squabbles/wars were all laid aside for the day as the eldest of five children was laid to rest on Christmas Eve. And I didn't have to chase down my turbo munchkin because our friends D & D took him for the day. God bless them for that! Taking care of Jas was both brave and compassionate on a level I can't even convey. Especially knowing that we'd be returning the next day to do Christmas there.
Aside from my gifties (THANKS for the computer chair, my hind end isn't even hurting yet!) which were awesome ~ the most fun of the day was walking in with D's big-ole package, which contained a super-manly-you're-in-the-country-now-you-need-a-gun present that I had wrapped with the most non-manly wrapping I could find ~ Tinkerbell and hot pink paper with as many curly-girly-frou-frou bows I could make before I ran out of ribbon.
So my agenda for today is simple, because it's Black Friday Redux. Hubby has to work, and I haven't cleaned house or done laundry in two days, which in a home as small as ours, is tantamount to not doing it for weeks in a larger house... I'm cleaning house. I've assembled and hooked up everything that needs it, I'm working on the second load of laundry because we've got new clothes that need to be done along with our two day pile-up. I'm going to vacuum up & mop all the leaves and mud that got tracked in without thought or care since Tuesday. I'm going to do dishes and clean out the refrigerator so that I can get to the leftovers from yesterday's delicious feast (that D sent us home with. Which means that I don't have to cook... you can't see it, but I am so doing the happy dance over here)!
And then, I'm going to get into a Looooooooooonnnnngggggg hot shower, and remove the braid-beads from my legs, and shave; because I got my first nightgown since I was twelve, and I'm going to wear it tonight with out making my husband think of Sasquatch.
Then tonight when it's all said and done, and I've fed hubby and son, and scrubbed the house and myself... I'm going to sleep... till New Years... don't call, don't write, don't bother... I'm worn out, exhausted and mentally, physically and emotionally drained.
Saturday, December 27th
7:00 am ~~ get up, use bathroom, eat something, change munchkin, give him food and drink, put on Disney; make sure it's on fastplay and automatic repeat. Inform hubby that from here-on-out, any and all munchkin needs are to be handled by anyone other than me until the calendar reads Sunday, December 28th. Punctuate this with "The Look". Return to bed and bury self under huge comforter... emerge for bathroom and food needs every four+ hours as needed...
Sunday December 28th:
8:00 am-ish ~~ return to land of the living. Spend time with family, call everyone that couldn't be here in person this holiday season...
7 comments:
So sorry to hear of yet another family member! It is the pits to have that happen during the holidays. A few years back, my Dad died on Thanksgiving...and then a few years later, my mom died and because of other deaths in our small community, we had to have her funeral on Halloween. (Although, she would have found that a HOOT!). My grandma died on Xmas eve many years ago,too. So, needless to say...when we have a holiday approaching,we get nervous.
Anyway, yes it is physically, spiritually and emotionally exhausting...so draw up that bubble bath and clutch that cozy comforter and sleep your heart out.
You will be in my thoughts....
2009 is bound to be a better year!!
Oh my goodness, I can't believe that once again someone actually brought a camera! Maybe that is the new trend and we just don't know it. Reading your post just reminded me that I need to catch up on laundry too. I wish I could sleep until the New Year because my body is just aching. Enjoy your weekend and see you on Monday :)
Whew - that was a hectic week you've had! Hope you've gotten the rest you need.
Aria -
Where did your nightmares end and reality kick in?
June in Oz
glad we are finally getting out of this holiday season if only for the ability of our house to stay immaculately clean for a day. i swear the last week was the worst condition i've seen my house in, with the presence of twenty something relatives deciding to spend the Christmas with us. whew! anyways, im glad to hear you've already started cleaning up your home, something i am planning to do tomorrow, so wish me luck, as i am gonna seriously need it.
Pictures obviously offend you...have you ever thought that maybe there was a family member who couldn't make it and they wanted the pictures? When my son died years ago, I was upset because people were taking pictures, but when my mother in law couldn't make it because she had a heart attack and was in the hospital. She asked if there were any pictures and I was able to send some to her. How can you be so insensitive? We may not always agree with the way people do things, but maybe you should stop treating that family like their trailor house trash...
Retired ~ People kept saying that he died on a sister's birthday so she'd always remember him; I guess that theory holds true in your family too.
1StopMom ~ If that's the new trend, then it needs to be over. Hope your laundry got done by night-elves over the weekend!
dreamwalker ~ the one plus of a week like that, is the ability to sleep unabashedly until noon!
June ~ If I knew that, I'd kick myself awake all the time!
Kaye ~ yes, I think the house is in worse shape today because we were all home all weekend...but I'll eventually have it back in good shape...
And Dear Anonymous ~ I didn't make it to my Gran's funeral in November and it would never have occurred to me to have pics taken. I prefer to remember those that have passed as they are in my heart. Pictures of the deceased in the casket is simply morbid. And on top of that, to be so completely blatant about taking them, I mean really, you'd think pics were being taken of a couple going to prom; it was just tacky, and I'll call it like I see it thank you. You're free to write your own blog and sympathize with the paparazzi angle. I'll be as "insensitive" as I like whenever I see fit to do so. And since I barely even mentioned his family in this piece, I can only assume you're harboring your own issues, that those issues are deep seated and you are Overly-Sensitive... unless of course, I'm talking about you... Is your name VONDA by any chance? If you're not VONDA, then I suggest you grow a thicker skin and read what I really write, because, in context, none of it calls anyone out for being white trash, except myself. If you ARE VONDA, you have no idea how sensitive I've been to this point because if I hadn't been, I'd have already called you out in headlines as a vulture/rattlesnake and you deserve every bit of the full brunt of my disgust, and so far, you've gotten off light. I'll stop here before I say what I really think about that horrible woman...
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