What I mean is that Family and Time become so precious when you realize they are slowly slipping away from you. When life is full and busy and even fun, I never notice the things that matter most– but when sorrow comes, I put all aside to catch them up fully. From sadness glean what gladness dims. ~

   I’ve missed you all. I’ve been kinda gone. My grandmother passed away –peacefully, in her sleep– about a week ago, and we had a memorial service for her, last Sunday. Met all the long-lost relatives. Suffered intense nervousness before singing for the service. Withered to dead calmness when we finished. Narrowly escaped a marriage arangement to my Mom’s distant friend’s son, or someone like that. Experienced the delight of reunion, then, the anguish of parting. Endured the whole exhusting exhusting event that only arrives after one is gone.

We’re relieved Grandma no longer has to battle the depression and changes that her stroke brought about. We’re glad her unhappiness is past. The future will be better then her present ever was.

More tears but of lesser sorrow :
Greater futures if but grim tomorrow.

Yes, I’ll miss her. . . although, she really wasn’t herself after the stroke. I’ve missed her all along.

Life is a bit out of kelter for us all. Phone calls, flights, and late nights will do a body in, but we expect "normal" to revive after a few weeks. Once I figure out what exactly normal is.
I guess. . . unfinished paintings, fermenting poems, incomplete short stories and songs and cookbooks. Laundry and forgotten sewing and quilts and baby blankets and knitting. Endless yard work and house work and odd jobs: This time will be spent wrapping up my time at home and preparing for the coming great ventures. . . Mission college, India, who knows what else. I’m wishing me the best. I hadn’t attended college because my help was needed with Grandma. I have a nice part-time job that provides tithe & offerings for church, pays my cello bill, and affords an occasional book or dress or gas & grocery expense  (covering my little life’s necessities).

Our present happiness is my sister and her two baby girls. Aside from not getting any sleep, we are euphoric with their chubby, wide-eyed, adorable presence! Yes, yes yesh!!! Kissing them is my favorite pastime. In a little while, it’ll be the babies bedtime, so I must go kiss them night-night now: enough update!

God’s Blessing &
Love to you all,

TigerlilyIndiana