: The Long Week
After Grandma's death on Thursday night, I felt great release. I made my way over to the house again on Friday and found that the bed was gone, the wheelchair was put away, and my uncle, my Dad, and my grandpa were restoring the entire house. It was going back to how it was.
"We want to put the past 16 years behind us as fast as we can," my Dad explained, "and have it like how everyone best remembers her."
I was only there for a few hours, just helping move this and shift that. After I was finished, I met up with Tricia, who was moody and upset in regards to recent events. We did the invitations, were tense with each other, and parted ways early that night.
We made up shortly afterwards and the invitations were sent out.
I made arrangements with Acme to only work half a day on Saturday. There were some minor issues and complications, but really, on Saturday was when I was starting to feel pretty down about all this.
I went back to my grandpa's house and spent some time with my uncles. After another patented Woodside interrogation, everyone engaged in conversations regarding government and the economy. My opinions in the matter were . . . well, let's just say I didn't get much to say and what was said was quickly ignored or forgotten.
After dinner, I went home.
Sunday was filled with chaos. I was asked to be a pall-bearer, but didn't have a suit. I needed a suit anyways for an up-coming interview. My Mom got me one as an early birthday present.
Calling hours were Sunday afternoon and I was stunned to see so many familair faces. A lot of people I didn't recognize, but a lot of them I did. It was a surprisingly up-beat affair, as was the dinner that followed.
Monday was different. Long story short, the funeral rolled around. It was far harder than the calling hours. Honestly, I thought the funeral was going to be easy. It was far from it. The Pastor sermon was powerful. My Uncle Bruce spoke. Eric, Travis, Christopher, Dan, Jacqueline, and myself were the pall-bearers. We loaded the casket up into the hearse. The ride to the cemetary was fine . . . but the burial . . .
I had barely cried since this whole thing started. I've become teary-eyed. I felt a small sob form in the back of my throat, but managed to swallow it each time. But immediately following the burial cermony, I completely lost it. In fact, most people did -- including my siblings, my Dad, my nephews, and nieces. And Tricia, who cried through it all, God bless her. There was a point after the ceremony that the four of us (Janine, Eric, and Travis) kinda all hundled together and sobbed.
After the burial, there was a lunch at the church. It was quiet and dignified.
I returned home not long after this with a pair of roses from my grandmother's casket. I put them in a vase Tricia bought from a garage sale (there's a point to that) and put it out on the kitchen table. I vegged out for a few hours. I got a call for an interview the next day at Uni-Syn PatentHealth.
I then returned to my grandpa's house and we ate dinner and went out for ice cream. It was nice.
The next day was my interview. It went pretty good, though I'm uncertain about the job itself. I'd have to quit Acme. I haven't made any decisions yet and really, I'm just kinda waiting for an offer.
That night (Tuesday now) I went over to my grandpa's again (a straight week now I've been over there) and had dinner again. I then bid my extended family a fond farewell and that was that.
Back to work on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I had a lot of condolances. I started getting RSVPs. Leslie's was actually the first, which made me laugh. I distinctly remember her saying "You'll forget about me and not invite me to your wedding." HA! Gotcha. Others have been coming in since then.
Saturday, I was supposed to work 11-8, with 3-8 register. I barely ran, thank God. Unfortunately, my Mom decided to celebrate my Grandpa Craver's birthday that day. I poped by on my lunch, but . . . yeah, missed it. We did get a late Bridal Shower gift, though, from an aunt. An engraved cake knife.
Sunday, we went out to see Tricia's family, now moved to Pittsburgh. We had a lot of fun out there. Went downtown, fell in love with the houses, went to the museum, up the incline train, etc etc. Good times.
And yesterday . . .
Over the past few days, I've noticed that the roses had been wilting and dying. I just kept putting it off and putting it off. Yesterday, for no reason whatsoever, the vase just cracked. Just up and cracked. Water gushed out and I was forced to throw the roses away. It was very strange.
It's been one very long week.
Tomorrow's my birthday.
~W~
After Grandma's death on Thursday night, I felt great release. I made my way over to the house again on Friday and found that the bed was gone, the wheelchair was put away, and my uncle, my Dad, and my grandpa were restoring the entire house. It was going back to how it was.
"We want to put the past 16 years behind us as fast as we can," my Dad explained, "and have it like how everyone best remembers her."
I was only there for a few hours, just helping move this and shift that. After I was finished, I met up with Tricia, who was moody and upset in regards to recent events. We did the invitations, were tense with each other, and parted ways early that night.
We made up shortly afterwards and the invitations were sent out.
I made arrangements with Acme to only work half a day on Saturday. There were some minor issues and complications, but really, on Saturday was when I was starting to feel pretty down about all this.
I went back to my grandpa's house and spent some time with my uncles. After another patented Woodside interrogation, everyone engaged in conversations regarding government and the economy. My opinions in the matter were . . . well, let's just say I didn't get much to say and what was said was quickly ignored or forgotten.
After dinner, I went home.
Sunday was filled with chaos. I was asked to be a pall-bearer, but didn't have a suit. I needed a suit anyways for an up-coming interview. My Mom got me one as an early birthday present.
Calling hours were Sunday afternoon and I was stunned to see so many familair faces. A lot of people I didn't recognize, but a lot of them I did. It was a surprisingly up-beat affair, as was the dinner that followed.
Monday was different. Long story short, the funeral rolled around. It was far harder than the calling hours. Honestly, I thought the funeral was going to be easy. It was far from it. The Pastor sermon was powerful. My Uncle Bruce spoke. Eric, Travis, Christopher, Dan, Jacqueline, and myself were the pall-bearers. We loaded the casket up into the hearse. The ride to the cemetary was fine . . . but the burial . . .
I had barely cried since this whole thing started. I've become teary-eyed. I felt a small sob form in the back of my throat, but managed to swallow it each time. But immediately following the burial cermony, I completely lost it. In fact, most people did -- including my siblings, my Dad, my nephews, and nieces. And Tricia, who cried through it all, God bless her. There was a point after the ceremony that the four of us (Janine, Eric, and Travis) kinda all hundled together and sobbed.
After the burial, there was a lunch at the church. It was quiet and dignified.
I returned home not long after this with a pair of roses from my grandmother's casket. I put them in a vase Tricia bought from a garage sale (there's a point to that) and put it out on the kitchen table. I vegged out for a few hours. I got a call for an interview the next day at Uni-Syn PatentHealth.
I then returned to my grandpa's house and we ate dinner and went out for ice cream. It was nice.
The next day was my interview. It went pretty good, though I'm uncertain about the job itself. I'd have to quit Acme. I haven't made any decisions yet and really, I'm just kinda waiting for an offer.
That night (Tuesday now) I went over to my grandpa's again (a straight week now I've been over there) and had dinner again. I then bid my extended family a fond farewell and that was that.
Back to work on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I had a lot of condolances. I started getting RSVPs. Leslie's was actually the first, which made me laugh. I distinctly remember her saying "You'll forget about me and not invite me to your wedding." HA! Gotcha. Others have been coming in since then.
Saturday, I was supposed to work 11-8, with 3-8 register. I barely ran, thank God. Unfortunately, my Mom decided to celebrate my Grandpa Craver's birthday that day. I poped by on my lunch, but . . . yeah, missed it. We did get a late Bridal Shower gift, though, from an aunt. An engraved cake knife.
Sunday, we went out to see Tricia's family, now moved to Pittsburgh. We had a lot of fun out there. Went downtown, fell in love with the houses, went to the museum, up the incline train, etc etc. Good times.
And yesterday . . .
Over the past few days, I've noticed that the roses had been wilting and dying. I just kept putting it off and putting it off. Yesterday, for no reason whatsoever, the vase just cracked. Just up and cracked. Water gushed out and I was forced to throw the roses away. It was very strange.
It's been one very long week.
Tomorrow's my birthday.
~W~
Current Mood: 
thoughtful
thoughtful