One of the benefits of the funeral next week will be seeing my nieces and my two surviving uncles, who will all be coming into town.

When my aunt died last year, we pretty much all converged on saying "We're having an awesome reunion! It just has this funeral thing in the middle of it!"

My people may be a little callous and strange, but the more acceptable and thus much less us way of saying would've been that the people who love and support us have a way of coming together when it's most important. And that's something great to hang on to when you need it.

Our general funeral plan is "maybe a wedding next time, or a birthday?" but nothing draws everyone in like death.

Consuela, I'm so sorry for your loss. Much peace, love and strength to you and your family.

I was just looking at our family calendar and added a few items and crossed off the last couple of days. Then I got a text message from a cousin that was a total gut punch. Today is the 4th anniversary of my mom's death. I had totally wiffed on the date, even with looking at the calendar a moment before. Reading her message I sank to my knees and cried - both for the loss and for not remembering.

With each year it gets both easier and harder.

Consuela, my thoughts are with you and your family. May the family gathering provide some healing. It is also ok if you feel a sense of relief. I know with my mom, she had been ill and in pain for so long, I was relieved when she was finally at rest.

Everyone togehter is a good thing to have.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Suela.

For some reason, this made me think of ita: [link]

For some reason, this made me think of ita: [link]

I am unrepentantly exuberant. Well, except for the part where this is day x+2 of the headache and I really REALLY need the migraine doc to call me back (I checked my calendar--I have an appointment with him next month, not even the same date, why does he have different records?).

But I can't concentrate on work, and the longer this takes the more everything sucks.

What Suzi said about relief, suela. And it's good that you all are taking care of yourselves and each other.

I'm reading Gulp by Mary Roach and she points out, from a carnivore/omnivore perspective, it's much better to eat organ meats

ain't no WAY. I appreciate the academic perspective, however.

Consuela, nice to see you and a lot of strength and peace 'ma

Sparky, your comment about being a bad mother made me laugh. I hope that was the intention.

For the rest of y'all: good morning. I just did 50 squats!

Oh, what the HELL. I missed a doctor's appointment AGAIN. This is the second time I've missed an appointment at this facility. They're gonna fire me as a patient. What is wrong with me lately?

I guess I need to find a different way to keep track of things. The old paper-calender-on-the-wall isn't working anymore. I can forget about it too easily.