five thousand shades of blue
Tuesday, January 08, 2002
During the H&D haze, I think I neglected to mention that my Great-Aunt Cele had passed away. The thing I remember most vividly about her is the trip I took to Orlando when I was a kid. My cousin Jen and I stayed with her (and then-husband) for three weeks -- the concept of having three weeks' worth of vacation now seems like an extravagance. There was Sea World, Circus World, Disney World (and being somewhat disgruntled at not being allowed to ride the big roller coaster, but we were only seven and eight respectively). Cherry tomato exploding onto new white sweater on the airplane. Meeting cousins-once-removed and playing Monopoly with them and jumping on their trampoline. Swooping a great big spoonful of applesauce up, stuffing it into my mouth, and completely scalding every inside surface -- a painful lesson to an eight year old that sometimes applesauce is served
hot. Aunt Cele's little dog Candy and eye (or was it ear?) drops every night and big fat curlers to put waves in my long but too-straight sun-blonde hair for a party. It seems so very long ago. She had kept with me into my adult life, into my forays into California and now in Oregon, and we'd corresponded occasionally by mail before her health turned for the worse.
What brings this back to mind for me is getting news that my grandfather's in the hospital. I can't remember exactly what had happened but he does have pneumonia. I suppose it is a good sign that, being off his medication for Alzheimer's for the morning, he was alert enough and physically able to act up against the nurses (silver lining, silver lining). It seems my luck with family mortality is finally coming to a long end after almost a thirty year winning streak.
is
this just not enough…?
