Fleur de Aleta

It’s been a difficult time.  Three deaths that affected my dad, my husband and a close family friend.  I was a spinning top, turning and twisting to offer support, love and hugs wherever needed.  So many emotions and comfort to offer, pulling in different directions all at the same time..    My Dad’s Aunt, my great aunt, Gregory’s great, great aunt Lillian passed away at the age of 93, right before her September birthday.  She was the last remaining of my grandmother’s siblings (8 siblings).  My dad hurt to see her the week before she passed away.  Dad said, “Aunt Lillian was my favorite aunt on my mom’s side.  My mom was serious in nature, but Aunt Lillian, you never knew what she would get into!”  Dad and Aunt Lillian’s son smiled as they brought up happy memories, especially how she loved to do the jitterbug.  Dad wrote a beautiful letter to go with the flower arrangements at her funeral.  When at the funeral visitation, I couldn’t help but notice that Aunt Lillian had a sweet smile

  Dear Son,   5 th  grade!  What?  Wait!  When did this happen?  Yesterday you were starting your first year as a Kindergarten student.  *sigh*  I remember walking with you to a school function when you were in Kindergarten and seeing a couple of boys and I thought, “Those are students?  Oh my goodness, they are so tall!  Are they supposed to be that tall in elementary school?”  And here you are.... 10 years old and just a sliver of an inch shorter than me.  You are those boys, the big kids on the block, the 5 th  graders, your last year at APAAS.  I know I’m going to cry at the end of the year.  I refuse to get teary-eyed now though.   Your summer started at a cool beach condo with us, Oma, Opa, Uncle Rob, Aunt Roda and your cousin, TJ (Troy).  You loved the beach, sand and all.  Even your dad managed to enjoy some beach time.  He really doesn’t like sand getting all over the place.  The condo was right on the beach and the sand was super soft.  You and TJ hunted for sea shells and ma

I was just going to do a post on Facebook, but figured this might be a little bit lengthy.  I’m resting in bed, listening to my stomach grumble and telling it to be quiet, enough already!  I do feel much better, not nearly as weak and first day of no diarrhea, so be quiet stomach!     Let me get to the end of the story (no pun intended).  We had one day left in Venice, Italy.  Instead of staying in Venice though, having spent the better part of a week there (with jumps to nearby islands, Murano and Burano), the 8 of us (my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, nephew, Greg, Gregory and me :) opted to go to the nearest inland city, Verona.     Early on the last vacation day in Italy, we took a long walk (not unusual in Venice) to the boat stop, took a boat ride and then took an hour train ride to get to Verona from Venice.  Then, walked from the train station to go to the nearest attraction.  Rob said, “We were THAT close to getting there (first attraction).”  But my mom wasn’t feeling we

 Dear Son, 2020 is the year that just keeps giving, not in a good way.  Normally we don't have hurricanes in October.  This will be another year mommy will remember her birthday - when Cat 3, Hurricane Zeta arrived.  That morning, Mommy went for a walk with Oma.  We commented on how windy it was and how the birds were cawing and flying crazy.  Sure it was cloudy, but it seemed like it was a pleasant day.  Other than the birds' behavior, how would people know without modern technology that a Cat 3 was about to land.   You had virtual classes for half the day.  The winds slowly increased, but not alarmingly. Oma, Opa and TJ came over to celebrate Mommy's birthday and enjoy some steaks your Daddy cooked for us.  My parents decided to leave and got home, just in time.  The rain came quickly.  The wind picked up... sending the rain sideways.  By the evening, it was pretty scary.  The rain was so thick and heavy, it was pounding on the window.  You said, "It's like someo