relaxing weekend
Thank you to everyone who stopped by on Friday to help us remember Jack. We appreciate hearing the stories…funny and serious… of how he affected the lives of those around him…even a year later. Planting the tree and eating his favorite meal opened the door to easy conversation. After a year it’s nice to be able to talk openly about Jack without making others uncomfotable and without always crying.
We hung out at the house till after 11. Dave played my piano and we worshipped and prayed together. Good times.
We headed up to Nazareth, Pa. to visit my family on Sat, and came back last night. I was concerned about my father’s health.
He is so much fun to be around. Eventhough he doesn’t talk well since his stroke 4 years ago, he communicates very well. He fished, took a boat ride, walked the hill, built fires, and stuffed himself with steak and tater tots. Yes, we took Jack’s favorite meal to share with them, too. It opened the way there, too, to talk openly and often about Jack. Infact, by Sunday, Nanny was telling everyone we ran into that her grandson and my son had died a year ago, and we were remembering him by planting things. She sent home a flat of purple pansies with us, because that’s what we had at Jack’s memorial service, and planted last fall to return in the spring as a remembrance.
My mother is not doing as well mentally as we had hoped. She can’t remember things like how to cook certain dishes that she rasied us on, or stores that we shopped together, or even the last dog my dad had. And she was adamant about never having or having done any of those things. Also, we’ve been suggesting for months that she have her eyes checked, and she still hasn’t…she sees “good enough”. She seems to be out of touch with reality, and when I tried to talk to her about things going on in the family, or her finances, she would change the subject. Even when I called her on it, she would change the subject. Don’t know what to do except make an effort to be a bigger part of their lives.
Anyhow, it’s always so good to be home. I love my own bed, and my home is so peaceful. I always return with a new appreciation of things I too easily take for granted.