much ~ma, laura. I am sure your mom will be proud of you!

In uncle news, the real hospice nurse STILL has not been to see him, my aunt is trapped, and my mom can't drive either. I am looking in to renting a care to go down there (40 miles, but not so big where I gre up) and do a groery run for them, since my aunt usually takes my mom shopping.

He is talking about a bag of bones and a bag of fur, and that seems interesting. My hospice nurse researcher acquaintance said that often end of life patients hallucinate other dead people, but in a comforting way (that is, they don't generally hallucinate bad experiences). My uncle, who had some bad family experiences, was really really fascinated and interested by native American culture, even going so far as to study and learn rituals of our local native populations in the 60s and 70s, so I am wondering if that is a comfort to him.

That sounds like a good thing to do, Sophia.

You can do it, Laura.

I have protested and then gone out for... linner, I guess. Had a burger and a boilermaker, and now it seems unlikely I'm actually going to grocery shop....

I'm sorry the hospice people haven't been on the ball, Sophia.

Positive thoughts for Laura.

Sophia, I hope you find a way to help.

I discovered last night, that at some point in the last few months, mac stole a stack of gift cards I had. So now he owes me $90. Fucker. oh - he also lied about it, but I found them in his room.

Damnit, Mac.

I had a good day. Super full and quite thought provoking. In ways, I think being an outsider from a really different part of US culture to here still manages to result in sometimes different interactions than white folk from this part of the US, even after 20 years steeped here. Not better or anything like that, I dunno what. Maybe I'm just socially inept enough stumble cluelessly through some social barriers. I don't really understand it myself and god knows I'm still learning the trauma that exists for black Baltimore, much less America as a continent. I'm no enlightened wonder & I thoughtlessly benefit from privilege I am unaware of. But I made some new friends so very different from me, in so many ways beyond skin and that's good. And I think I met a little girl I can give eclipse glasses to.

So, yeah. I'm salty and stinky and a little drunk.

Dillo, mr. flea and I are about to head out to Carbondale for the eclipse tomorrow! We're staying with loligo, whom some of you may know from LJ/DW, whom I've known since - well, 14 years! - but never met. It's so strange to be an internet axe murder at this late date!

Hello Buffistas! Back after a couple days of all family all the time.

The memorial went so well. My part of mass was the eulogy, which resulted in many laughs and compliments from everyone. I was stressed in advance because I had zero experience of speaking to a crowd, but when I got up there I saw a mass of people I had known all my life it was just easy. The flood of support and love erased my fears. The biggest laugh was from my group of 5 cousins and their families that we grew up with but haven't seen in one place together in decades. Their Mom and mine were very strong liberal politically active women. My shoutout to Mom's "beloved Democrats" brought the laugh, and afterwards they told me that they were grateful our Moms were spared seeing the current horror show.

Small town loving support also included us being told that the fire department paid for the catered food that was delivered because of the many years of family support. Then the funeral director told us that his services were free and that he would only bill the direct costs of the newspaper and other minor stuff because of our long family history with them.

So, feeling the love.

So glad it went well, Laura. And so lovely how many people are looking after your family.

We're staying with loligo, whom some of you may know from LJ/DW, whom I've known since - well, 14 years! - but never met. It's so strange to be an internet axe murder at this late date!

Yay Loligo! I have known her for 20 years, since my old XF days. I have in fact met her IRL and she is not an axe murderer. Do tell her I say hi.

((Laura))