Was it all a dream?
The last week and a half or so has been incredible surreal. In the midst of a frustrating run of a show, attempting to find a new apartment by January 1st, early wedding plans and the normal holiday hustle and bustle, I received word that my Grandmother past. The family knew this day was not terribly far in the future, but to hear that news...especially over the phone and so far away, is always a shock.
I fought with the decision on whether or not to fly home. No questions asked...I wanted too. Work would accommodate, family would put me up for a few days. But travel at that late a notice, apartment still in the air...it terrified me. Ross was such a blessing right after I found out. Looking up flights, taking on the apartment hunt, tolerating my waffling mind and hemming and hawing. Decision made, I tried to book a flight.
Did you know most airlines have bereavement rates? Not that it helped the price much given the late notice, return location and time of year. All those holiday travelers wanting to get away from the cold for their winter break. But finally after being on and off the phone with every major airline I was able to book a ticket for a flight that left that evening. The caveat...the earliest I could have flown back was December 21st. Even that was a surprise...most other airlines couldn't guarantee a seat before Christmas eve.
Fourteen long hours later I was in Milwaukee, loaded into my mother's car and heading to my childrehood home...a place I have visited infrequently since starting college back in 2000. But it's still home. Alien in many ways, but home.
And maybe Grandmom planned everything out this way...one family gathering close to the holidays...I missed those large family gatherings at her house for Christmas. Food galore, present exchanges, dogs underfoot, kids screaming and smiling, cards and more cards. It's a shame I never learned sheepshead during all of those gatherings.
The service was nice. How else can one really describe a funeral? The flowers were beautiful. She looked well. More color in her cheeks than I'd seen over the last few years. Photos and memories all around. Tears and smiles. Good news shared with the family despite the circumstances...new houses moved into, weddings to look forward to...
And cold. Coming from 70 degrees and rain to below 20 and snow will always be a bit of a culture shock. But even the cold and snow was welcome. I was with family again. The cold didn't really matter.
Maybe I should have stayed on through Christmas. Though that would have been easiler only if Ross could have joined us.
And now after another long 14 hours in transit, I'm sitting back in 70 degrees and sun. Like it never happened. Back to work. Back to moving. It's so surreal. And the hours on the plane...blocked out, minutes stretching into hours, legs cramping, water and beverage passed. Movies to distract and dissagreeable seat mates causing trouble with the flight attendant. only adding to the dreamlike scene.
I got to work this morning and only one person was there...the rest seeming to have departed for the holidays already.
Everything just seems so strange right now...
I fought with the decision on whether or not to fly home. No questions asked...I wanted too. Work would accommodate, family would put me up for a few days. But travel at that late a notice, apartment still in the air...it terrified me. Ross was such a blessing right after I found out. Looking up flights, taking on the apartment hunt, tolerating my waffling mind and hemming and hawing. Decision made, I tried to book a flight.
Did you know most airlines have bereavement rates? Not that it helped the price much given the late notice, return location and time of year. All those holiday travelers wanting to get away from the cold for their winter break. But finally after being on and off the phone with every major airline I was able to book a ticket for a flight that left that evening. The caveat...the earliest I could have flown back was December 21st. Even that was a surprise...most other airlines couldn't guarantee a seat before Christmas eve.
Fourteen long hours later I was in Milwaukee, loaded into my mother's car and heading to my childrehood home...a place I have visited infrequently since starting college back in 2000. But it's still home. Alien in many ways, but home.
And maybe Grandmom planned everything out this way...one family gathering close to the holidays...I missed those large family gatherings at her house for Christmas. Food galore, present exchanges, dogs underfoot, kids screaming and smiling, cards and more cards. It's a shame I never learned sheepshead during all of those gatherings.
The service was nice. How else can one really describe a funeral? The flowers were beautiful. She looked well. More color in her cheeks than I'd seen over the last few years. Photos and memories all around. Tears and smiles. Good news shared with the family despite the circumstances...new houses moved into, weddings to look forward to...
And cold. Coming from 70 degrees and rain to below 20 and snow will always be a bit of a culture shock. But even the cold and snow was welcome. I was with family again. The cold didn't really matter.
Maybe I should have stayed on through Christmas. Though that would have been easiler only if Ross could have joined us.
And now after another long 14 hours in transit, I'm sitting back in 70 degrees and sun. Like it never happened. Back to work. Back to moving. It's so surreal. And the hours on the plane...blocked out, minutes stretching into hours, legs cramping, water and beverage passed. Movies to distract and dissagreeable seat mates causing trouble with the flight attendant. only adding to the dreamlike scene.
I got to work this morning and only one person was there...the rest seeming to have departed for the holidays already.
Everything just seems so strange right now...
posted by Unknown at
6:45 PM
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