Postby lucylee » Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:38 pm
I did have a good time with my teacher friends. All these ladies are closer to my mother's age than mine, but I love seeing them so much. We usually have some kind of program. Today we met at the special education center for our county high schools. I had no idea what they do there, but the students from each high school go twice each week for half a day and they have a lot of life skills things they can't provide at the schools -- woodshop, ceramics complete wiht a kiln, screen-printing t-shirts, painting... just a lot of things that should help them after they age out of the school program. They also put on a county-wide prom for these students every year. We're the only school system in our area that we know of that does this. It is not just a "token" dance for these kids -- this year they had a pirate ship that swung in place. Last year they had a 60' castle wall for Frozen, with an ice rink. Another year, they had a Mary Poppins theme, with a HUGE working carousel. (I have never been to these proms; I've only seen the pictures on FB and in the newspaper.) But it's amazing what these teachers do for their students.
I've also been feeling very thankful for the people who are willing to take their time and coach youth league sports. Sometimes they go overboard a little bit, LOL, but dgrands have really been blessed with patient, encouraging men and women. It takes a lot of time just to get kids to and from practice. I've just been thinking about the time required for these folks to stay out there with the kids while the parents are running errands, or sitting around chatting, or reading a book or playing on their phones. It's a big commitment. I know I've been guilty of criticizing coaches (even though dh once WAS a coach!) But at least dh was paid -- these people are all volunteer, with no rewards at all.
Well -- deep thoughts.
After my lunch meeting, I came home and took a nap. Four days of early rising, (early for me!!!) plus the stress of this weekend, and I just couldn't face anymore anything. I haven't even talked to my mother today, or my brother, who probably arrived a little after noon today. I don't feel too bad about not talking to dmom today -- she called me three times yesterday, for no important reason.
Afterwards, after I woke up and dh showered, dh and I made a Walmart run, washed the car at the drive-thru wash, got gas, and ate at Olive Garden.
I feel kinda bad that I have not been visiting at my aunt's with my uncle and cousins. OTOH -- these ARE the people who totally forget about me and my immediate family at holiday time, you know? And we will be spending the entire day with them tomorrow. Daunt who is living is not at fault for overlooking us -- she is showing signs of dementia, and she lets girl dcousin take charge of everything. Dcousin probably just considers that we have multiple places to go already. Daunt who just died would have spoken up if I had given her the go-ahead; she sometimes felt left out (in other ways) too. But as far as holidays, she just let others take the lead. She had her hands full with duncle.
Anyway -- Duncle wants the family to have an hour before visitation begins -- so we will be at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m., then visitation from 11:00-1:00, funeral at 1:00, burial about 15 miles away afterwards, and then probably, I'm guessing, back to their church for a meal? THEN -- I may have to help daunt and cousins distribute potted plants, which will be left at the funeral home while we go to the grave site.
I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow. It still doesn't feel real that she's gone, you know? -- Both she and my aunt's husband left like this. One minute my family was all intact, they were fine, and then suddenly, out of the blue, I get a phone call telling me that everything has changed. It's just hard to accept.
I just saw your post, Harriet. Thanks, and thanks to all for your comfort and sympathy at this time. Please do keep us in your prayers tomorrow and in the days ahead... especially the situation re: how duncle will manage his future living situation.
Tomorrow is another day.
