Trying to get back to functioning~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

Things of late do not feel normal.  With Lillian gone, there is an emptyness that will take sometime to heal.

Having Heather in my home is the best therapy for her at this time. 

From time to time either her parents or one of her two Uncles stay in Lillian's home for security sake.

Lillian's will (a trust really) help make things move more easily,  at first Heather thought that eventually her grandmother's house would be sold, but instead, the house has been left to her parents, with equal value portions of money to her uncles.

This is good really, her parents had to sell their home at a loss, when her father was un-employed, so even with Lillian gone physically she is still reaching out and helping family.   Lillian left Heather a letter, a lovely long letter, Heather reads it every night before she goes to sleep.   It helps encourage her to continue with what she is doing.

But everything is going to shift slowly, everyone wanting to make sure everything is done right.

Baby Sis is going to come up and visit with me for a week, so Joe is going to retreat to his apartment for a while, as he says "one man in a house full of women is courtin' danger, if I leave the seat up all three of you will come down on my head".   That doesn't mean he'll stay away, but with only one spare bedroom there won't be much space.

I'm looking forward to seeing my sister.  I've taken the week of Halloween off as vacation, with so much of my work already edging over to my associates I can aford to play "Hooky".

But I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit lost without Lillian's presence,  now I must go,  Heather is asking when are we going to the Spirit Store to get a few Halloween decorations, I think we will both welcome that distraction and I need to buy candy for our eventual trick and treaters.

Kisses Sweet Things

All Hallow's Eve~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

First I want to Thank everyone for their kind words of sympathy, especially you, my Dear Sweet Fram. Words of gentleness and understanding can be like a soothing balm, even if one feels helpless, to know that your grief is understood can mean a lot to someone.

Joe will be processing this from some time, he and his Mother were close even though miles apart he would call her frequently or e-mail her with long messages, almost diary entries really. And when he could get a few days free he would throw an overnight bag together and using a commuter flight fly down to see her for a day or two.

I didn't mind as I had things I had to take care of as well. But this will be a long on-going process. I've advise him to continue writing to his Mother, even though she's physically gone, it was a yahoo account so the e-mails will simply build up over time. Perhaps shifted to a file or something. But it will be good therapy for him.

Again Thank You Everyone.

Death is a morbid subject and one I will not deal with tonight, tonight is a night to laugh at Death and let Death know that in spirit we are Deathless. So I will not expound upon it tonight and focus on Hot Chocolate, Apple and pumpkin pie, hot apple cider, the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, those are the scents of life within death.

Tonight is Halloween, Joe is working, heaven only know what is going to be happening...increased patrols to watch for mischief makers who intend more Trick than Treat.

I will be handing out Candy from my house and Heather will be helping her grandma, Lillian handing out candy at Lillian's' her friends had their Halloween party this last weekend since it does fall on a school night and we went last evening to look at all the lighted Halloween decorations. A number of families are going all out. And we had fun going Saturday evening to the Presbyterian Church for their annual "Pipe Screams" Halloween music concert. And enjoying the Teen haunted house down at the shopping center.

Lillian will be controlling the little beast, Baby, to make sure she doesn't run out of the house.

Afterwards a late night nosh at Lillian's'. Just relaxing, talking and eating.

I went to work very early this morning to clear things away and have just returned. A number of our lady staffers have taken a half day to get their children ready for "Trick or Treat", the men will leave early this afternoon, to at least hand out candy.

So much has happened, a lot of it good. Except for the loss of Joe's Mom. So now Sweet Things, I'm going to put out the last of my Halloween decorations and wish you all a Merry All Hallow's Eve.

Sad News~~~

Sad News Sweet Things,

Joe just called me a few minutes ago, his Mother passed away peacefully less than an hour ago.

He was in tears. I know you'd think a big strong man crying is a sign of weakness, but it's not. It's a sign that he truly cares. I feel so helpless to not be there for him. I asked him if he wanted me to fly down, but he said no, it was not necessary, although he did miss me, but he felt that really there wasn't anything I could do.

And he's right.

The good thing is that he had a chance to see her, talk to her before she passed, and those moments were very important.

Lillian came over to see how things were going and I told her what happened. She is insisting that she treat me to dinner once I finish things up.

Joe told me that all the funeral arrangements had been made in advance and how I can get in touch with him, I'm grateful he will not be alone that he is staying with family. And I am grateful that I have such good friends.

Until Later Sweet Things, Kisses