stories since I've been away

Last Wednesday, I woke up, got the boys ready, and packed up the SUV for adventure. We made our 9:00 AM optometrist appointment, where I ran into my high school English teacher, Mrs. Darke.

(For my fellow CAHS alumni, Mrs. Darke is in quasi-retirement, teaching online school a few days a week. She says that her students are an interesting mix, some of which are in prison. But, she is happy to still be able to teach.)

Then, we went to a library story time with some friends. We played baseball in the scorching heat. We ate at Noodles. Out of a group of a half dozen small children, my two were the ones screaming and crying at the restaurant, which was odd. Usually they are well behaved. Everyone has their days, though. So, we packed them back in the SUV, and headed to my mom's house, where I raided her wedding album and scanned in some pictures for my cousin. Then, I packed the boys back into the SUV and headed to my cousin's house in Akron.

On the road, we ran into a really bad thunderstorm, but I managed to keep the car on the road and followed a heavy utility truck through the storm. The boys finally slept.

My mother in law met us at my cousin's house so that she could borrow some camping equipment and I could give her a hitch we had picked up for Papa Kirk's car. She gave me the extra shelf for my microwave that I have been missing for 5 years - it's actually still in the back of my car. We ate pizza and played with the boys.

She told us that my cousin is expecting a new baby this winter, but I totally forgot about that until last night. I suddenly remembered and interrupted Kevin while he was talking to tell him the good news. He was very pleased, even though I totally ruined his train of thought. His new train of thought was that it is always good for there to be a new baby coming after a death in the family.

Anyways, after Grandma Ella left for her house, my cousin and I started looking through old family photos. Then we got the call.

My grandma had a temperature of 106 degrees, and she was expected to pass away in about an hour or so.

When I had seen her on Sunday, just three days earlier, I knew that it wouldn't be long. I figured she had a week, or 10 days, left, at most. So, it wasn't a surprise. But it was still a shock.

About an hour and 15 minutes later, we got the call. My dad called me at the exact same time that my uncle called my cousin. Our phones rang at exactly the same time, and I knew immediately. I'm glad that I was in Akron with my cousin when it happened; that we were all together.

The next morning, we departed from Akron to head back to East Liverpool with the rest of the family. We stopped at a mall on the way to pick up some clothes. Connor, who now refuses to wear anything that doesn't have a number on it, scored an OSU football jersey to wear by agreeing to wear a shirt and tie without complaining on the days that I said he had to.

My cousin and I were assigned the task of picking out an outfit for Grandma. We bought her a purple blazer and skirt set with pleats, with a pleated ruffled pink blouse. I really think she would have liked it. (All her sisters that have pre-deceased her were buried in purple, and the remaining two want to be buried in purple as well.) Buying her last outfit was totally surreal, to be honest.

After we made our purchase, we walked out to the parking lot, where I noticed that my SUV had a flat tire! Fortunately, there was a Goodyear right across the street, so I just drove it over and an hour later, I was road-ready again. The tire was able to be plugged, and the nail that they pulled out of it was barely more than a staple. But I guess it had gotten in there just the wrong way.

Later that night, my cell phone broke into two pieces, so the next morning, I headed to the local Verizon store. I wasn't sure what to expect from the small-town store, but there were about 5 phones to choose from, and I left pleased. Interestingly, a guy got kicked out of the store for not wearing a shirt while I was in there. No shirt, no shoes, no service. Seriously.

I still haven't finished programming my new phone.

My cousin and I stayed with my Pap Pap. I could tell he was seriously glad for the company, even though my uncle lives next door. The kids made us all laugh and smile. People brought tons of food, mostly baked goods and cold cut platters. Pap Pap joked that he wouldn't fit into his suit for the funeral. I bought him a new black tie with purple and blue paisley outlining designs on it, for I feared that all his ties were from the 1970s. I was right. He needed a new tie.

The small town Wal-Mart was seriously lacking, though. There was no couscous, edamame, soba noodles, disposable bibs or cinnamon gum to be found. The frozen food section was the same size as the one that we have at home, but instead of a whole aisle of vegetables, there was one freezer case, mostly full of corn. The rest was tv dinners.

The boys and I spent a week with Pam and her kids. It was great to be together. I know that Connor is happy to be home, though. He missed his home and his toys, and all the time spent at the funeral home was taxing on him, even though there was a playroom.

Lex, on the other hand, now misses his cousin Hannah. She was his constant playmate for a week, holding his hands and walking him from here to there all hours of the day.

I have now nursed a baby in a casket display sales room in a funeral home. It was the only room available that I could lock and have privacy since I was wearing a dress that wasn't nursing friendly.

I really wanted to bring Pap Pap home with us when we left. I thought it would be good for him, so that he wouldn't be alone. He has agreed to come and visit us soon, but he wasn't ready when I left. I realize now that he has things to take care of still. When I left, he was going with my uncle to pick out a headstone for Grandma. There is no way he will leave town until he can see her buried with the headstone finished and in place. Maybe then he will come visit. It seems like maybe early next month would be good for him, as my uncle is going on vacation then. Plus, he would get to come to our hog roast. When I told him about it, he smiled. He particularly liked the thought of the apple in the pig's mouth!