Friday, August 21, 2009

Settling and unsettling...

With the errands close to caught up, the laundry almost done and put away and the dinner menu figured out, I'm catching my breath for a minute...

My "little" sister turned 50 while I was on the road; at first determined to delay her party for a while as "she wasn't in a rush" she's now decided that "she'll always be older than me" and therefore we started trying to work things out for this weekend.

Yesterday as I got back in my truck at Sears I found a text from her saying "call me"...

"Uncle Bill called a little bit ago; Aunt Frances died this morning."

My Dad's only surviving brother, I never saw that much of him until a few years before my Dad got sick; when my Dad was dying of cancer, Uncle Bill was a rock. Always there, always the right words or the right story...his wit and smile were a great comfort.

We're still having Cindy's birthday party but it's been moved up to tomorrow; Sunday I'm driving to her house and we'll be driving to Oklahoma to spend the night. The funeral is on Monday and we'll return after. My younger son is planning to join us...

Dottie and I had been talking all summer about trying to put together a 3 day weekend to go down and see them...Aunt Frances had apparently been fine 'til the last two weeks when pneumonia "got ahold of her" and refused to "let go".

Instead of putting off the "local" relatives for the "long distance" ones, now I get to regret not doing things the other way 'round!

If you have a chance to make a phone call, write a card, or visit someone; do it while they're in your thoughts...you just never know!

May the weekend be kind to each of you!

alan


10 comments:

ryssee said...

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. That news is always hard to take.
And you're right, you just never know, so enjoy the last-minute party for your sister.

robin andrea said...

Good advice, alan. I'm sorry that you didn't have a chance to say your farewells. You know I always believe that people know when their in your heart. That's just the way love works.

CrackerLilo said...

I am so sorry to read this. :-( Please don't beat yourself up.

*hugs*

Samantha Shanti said...

Sometimes, life is what happens to one on the way to one's regularly scheduled events. Aunt Fan still loves you, no worries Lad. The last time you saw her was not the last time you'll see her my friend, love is amazing that way. You're all in my thoughts, drive safe. And yes, write, call, mail and hug often and for no particular reason.

Samantha Shanti said...

Oops, sorry, Aunt Fran . . .

Hugs,

Sam

Debbie K said...

Dear Alan
Thinking of you at this difficult time. Your beloved Aunt Frances will live long in your heart.
Bless you all
Debbie x

Anji said...

I'm sorry to hear your news - thinking of you and your family.

Shauna said...

Alan, I know what you are feeling. I lost my mother to cancer, she had requested I take time off and for many years I blamed myself for it. She died while I was taking a day off from her.
You need not blame yourself, life is full of surprises and death just comes out of nowhere. If I were to send a email, phone call or letter to my family every time I thought of them I would never get anything done.

Live your life, enjoy who you have and thank god you had time to spend with your Aunt.

XXOO

Anonymous said...

Im sorry for your loss Alan. But please dont beat yourself up so... you are a good man and everyone in your life knows how much you care for them.

Hugs to you.

Chandira said...

What a good reminder, there are a lot of cards I haven't sent, phone calls I haven't made.

Don't regret anything Alan, you always do your best, that's what I love about you, you've been so sweet and caring with me, and we've never even 'met'! You have been a big part in helping me through my own recent crisis, and that says a lot about you, my friend.. :-)