Circle of Life Saturday

It has been a full day. Russ and I drove out to Winston Salem to meet Carter for lunch. She originally was planning on coming home from camp on Aug 18, but earlier in the week told us that she was asked to stay and work one more weekend. She’s grown up so it was her decision. Since she was missing a weekend at home to see Russ and I asked her if we could meet her today just to get a little time with her. Also, I have some winter boots and a coat that I needed her to try.
Russ, Shay and I were sitting at a table on the sidewalk of a place we love in Winston and Carter quietly came walking around the corner. If she did not have a Northeastern shirt on I might not have recognized her. She was tan and calm and so composed. It was a wonderful few hours, but short.
I drove home so Russ could work if he wanted and Shay slept on her bed in the back seat. We knew that the visit had really worn her out because she usually rides on Russ’ lap. I had not looked at my phone all day so when we pulled in the driveway I glanced at my ridiculous long list of email. One caught my eye from my friend Warren in Maine. His 92 year old mother passed away this morning. She had a heart attack last weekend and he had thought she was improving as they made plans for her to move to rehab, but she quietly passed away in her sleep in the early morning.
I called Warren to see how he was. I loved his mother who was a real hoot. We had some quality time together during my visit two weeks ago. I knew it might be the last time I saw her, but I had thought that during previous year’s visits. She was a proper, god fearing woman who had some dementia in the last little bit. At dinner one night in the HoJo room this visit Warren, his sister Donna and I were eating at a table with “Gram.” We were talking about movies we loved. Well, Donna, Warren and I were. When we brought up Casablanca I quoted the best line from the movie, “You know how to whistle don’t you?” I stop there, not wanting to offend Gram. She looked up from her ice cream with a wry smile and said, “I know the rest of the line.” Nobody finished, “just put your lips together and blow.” She was more with it than not! My heart goes out to Warren and Donna. I really loved Gram.

After I hung up from talking to him it was time to leave for my friend Sara’s surprise 60th birthday party. I had taken her out to lunch yesterday to celebrate her birthday and as a way to throw her off the scent of an impending party. Her husband Dave had invited a big, I mean giant crowd of her many friends to toast Sara.

She appeared to be totally surprised. It was a very fun group of so many friends that I hardly had enough time to talk to everyone I wanted too. Russ and I are too old to stay at a party more than three hours. I finally had hit the wall of this big day and had to come home. I am not sure I can take this much emotion everyday.