One week ago tomorrow

Wow. [typed in a wholly unenthusiastic manner]

It will be one week ago tomorrow that my grandmother passed away, and with the advent of Easter hanging in the wings (please pardon the unintended Ecclesiastic pun), her funeral arrangements were made with an eye on early the following week.  One short day of viewing/visitation and then the service and burial on day two.

I spent much of my time over the past few days either on the phone (on behalf of our mother), attempting to convince my eldest brother to come, or finishing (or trying to finish) final work for classes.  And, if he wasn't coming, the focus shifted to trying to ascertain if he wasn't coming because of money issues or work scheduling conflicts....or whatever other myriad 'reasons' existed.  Due to his (infrequent) monosyllabic word use, the messages were met with the usual cryptic Aaron-esque answers.  Fortunately, while infinitely frustrating to deal with, it was brief.  There was also time spent researching best prices for airline fares from NY to Detroit so mom could make provisions available for another relative to make it either 1) home to visit with Gram before she passed, or 2) home for the funeral when the time came (since it looked fairly imminent).

Yesterday the day was spent in equal measure - on the road (damn road crews patching SB I-75....they couldn't have patched NORTHbound instead?) to/from the funeral; at the church service and then luncheon; at Gram's apartment with people coming and going, hugging and grabbing, eating and chatting, etc.  Karl was a trooper, but after he'd had enough, he escaped by napping throughout the noise and family clatter, instead of turning surly - and this was surely a gift from God.  Brian was an infinite help, and despite his wanting to get on the road to head to one of two jobs he needed to be at, he managed to help doing minor - but necessary - tasks when asked.  I simply ran the kitchen and answered questions....and located people in the sea of faces and din of Schaffer hubbub.

Today, we are back to near-normal.  Brian is readying to go to work; Karl is blissfully drowsing, but I can hear him stirring; and I am preparing for some necessary stuff I need to get to.

Rest in peace, Gram.  And please give Grandpa a HUGE hug from me, as I miss him so.  See you in about fifty years.