April 12, my wife’s grandmother died. While we weren’t “close,” I was the only “grandchild-in-law” she apparently really liked and I liked her too. Even more so, she and my wife were rather close so I feel/felt my wife’s pain. Her condition (Liver cancer) had progressed rapidly since January and she didn’t want to put anybody out, so she kept it hidden until she couldn’t any more. Fortunately, my wife made it across country in time to say her goodbyes to the mortal form. My kids talked to her on the phone one final time too.
Tuesday, my older sister passed away. At 43, she was a 5’, 254 lbs. diabetic with Sarcoidosis. She went into cadiac arrest as they were trying to put her on a ventilator. Being cremated, there won’t be a funeral, only a simple church service. For various reasons, personal and economic, I won’t be there. If there is an afterlife, she’ll hear my goodbye. If not, there’s no reason to fly across country to say goodbye to an urn full of ashes. Either way, I love ya, sis (I hope Heaven, if there is one, has internet so she’ll see this.)
About 3:20AM yesterday, my grandmother (my dad’s mum) died. At 85+, it’s not a surprise that the cancer she had killed her. I shouldn’t care; hell, our (my sisters and me) nickname for her was Gramma Hitler. I had talked to her maybe 4 times in the last year and before that, a lot less. Still, she seemed to be honest about trying to mend all the bridges she finally realized she burned and I regret that we never made it to her place (a 16 hour drive with a 6 and 4 year old) so her great-grandchildren could meet “new and improved” great-gramma.
I post this not for sympathy, but for a fish-smack (a large Carp) on the face. Anybody you love(d,) make your peace with them…NOW. Friends, Family, Lovers, it makes no difference. No matter what they did to you or you did to them, you love/loved them for a reason.
Call, E-mail, fax, or post here now to let them know how you feel/felt.
If worst comes to worst, join me. Raise a glass and toast those you care about or, at one time, cared about.
Don’t let “one more day” become “one day too late.”
Peace & Love to all, DESK