Well, I’m here again, but at two different places that previously had been unrelated…

Less than a year ago, I lost my dad, and I’m still coping with that loss…

I’m in New Orleans, Rachel and I drove here on Saturday after hearing that her grandmother was very ill. we arrived Saturday evening, and went directly to the hospital. We spent a little time with The family members that were there, and then went and checked into the hotel. Rachel’s sister was at the hotel already, and helped us get checked in… 4 people, 4 hotel rooms. but apparently there was a surplus of rooms open in the hotel, so it was no bother.

Sunday I couldn’t handle going back to the hospital, as it brought up too much memory of my dad’s passing. I spent the day in quiet reflection, as I was trying to just be at peace. The girls had  good day spending time with Gan, and I ended up grabbing some coffee, and a little food.

Monday morning came the knock at my door that seemed inevitable… Gan had passed away. Rachel’s dad was on his way to town a few ours later, but since he had a 13-14 hour drive, we knew it would be the next morning before he arrived.

Tuesday was Rachel’s birthday, it was also Gan’s. Rachel and I went and had a quiet lunch in the quarter, and then we all went to dinner with 2 uncles, and their wives/ girlfriends. It was surreal. Rachel’s Grandmother would have been 79 that day. We had dinner at a restaurant that you could see from Gan’s bedroom window. No-one knew how to act, that to say, or what to do. We celebrated life the best way we knew how, in the midst of death.

The funeral is tomorrow, and I better get some sleep between now and then…