That's very good to hear, Steph. My mother had her gallbladder removed many years ago, and it was no big deal at all.

I found this pic -- but maybe they'll try and sign Jilli up instead -- that'd be a sight, especially if they let her have a parasol and a purse. And I'm partial to this, sure, it's not flattering, but it does make me laugh. Also -- it's big enough that I can print a decent copy. That's my main concern -- most of the pics I have are sized for web, or dead links...

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I should have something chosen and printed out for him tomorrow evening.

Hey, Kat! You have any high res of me at your nuptials?

Kate, it was Saturday, up at Lake Tahoe. It seems like a rare thing, a memorial that was actually true to the person's life and spirit, that felt sad but good and right. My grandfather would have enjoyed his hugely. Where was your grandfather's service, and what was it like? (Something good, I'm guessing, or it wouldn't be a pleasant memory for you.) Would it have made him happy?

I dunno. Maybe? gimme a sec.

I'm off to krav right now, so no rush rush.

You look like a glamazon in the first one listed as us, you and your boots. And the one after that is a closer shot.

What's this for again?

JZ, that sounds like a lovely ceremony.

Steph, I'm rooting for gall-bladder stuff for your dad, too. My maternal grandma, my mom, and my sister have all had theirs removed while in their 20s and recovered just fine. Apparently the scars got dramatically smaller with each generation.

It seems like a rare thing, a memorial that was actually true to the person's life and spirit, that felt sad but good and right.

At my mom's father's funeral, one of my baby cousins, disconcerted by all the weepy cousins and aunts and uncles and parent, began fooling with the hymnals such that one of us began to giggle and it slowly migrated, and the next thing you know, the whole family side of the church was laughing, snorting, elbowing, howling. When we quieted (it took a while) the pastor paused in his speech and said "It's truly wonderful to have all the P's giggling in the pews again, interrupting me." At which point the whole congregation lost it once again.

Then they played The Yellow Rose of Texas ( a favorite of my grandfather's, who knows why, he had no connection to Texas, or particular fondness for roses) and everyone lost it AGAIN.

This was for a man who, when my cousin said it took her three planes to get to visit him after his last heart attack, replied "You don't look that heavy."

So it was perfect. And thank you for reminding me of that.

TAR: When the teams are in the centrifuge, the music sounded just like the Star Trek music of conflict!

Wow! great prize for first place.

ita, the two pictures in your post are a great combo. A 1-2 punch, if you will.

The day of my grandfather's funeral a few years ago works out to be wonderful in my memory, even though the actual service was just OK. I was a pall-bearer, which was great (in its way), and afterward we all went back to my grandmother's and sang, and that was just amazing.

Laughter is what I remember of all the funerals. We didn't have a formal memorial for my paternal grandpa, but we were there when he died in his sleep, so there was an impromptu memorial at the house the day of. Laughter. With paternal grandma, there was nothing except my mom and dad and my aunt and her husband converging to clean out the house a month or so later. Their stories were of drinking and going through stuff, laughing and trying to pawn off the more hideous bits of furniture on each other.

Which, I think, is how it should be. Just being family and friends.

Also? t dork I like watching Devi in repose. She's so pretty and elegant and silvery. Beauty is a lovely thing. She's pretty moving too, but just watching her tucks and curls and the silvery cloud on her paws.... it's just nice.