Monday, June 2nd
M showed up, and we reviewed the new movie collections on Criterion this month. They, of course, had a small collection of Gene Hackman movies in honor of his passing. The only two well-known movies were this one and The Royal Tenenbaums. We decided to watch this and were mildly surprised to see how young he was and how much hair he had. It is, of course, a great movie.
Yesterday, I had a nice long chat with a lady my mom's age I knew when I grew up in Michigan 50 years ago. She gave me the number of the pastor of Dad's church, and I called the pastor on Monday to let her know what happened. It was a nice opportunity to talk to someone of the cloth about Dad's death. I really enjoyed talking to her about it. My sister also texted me and asked me to call the funeral parlor, and it turns out they needed to send my sister and me forms to authorize Dad's cremation. I felt very useful.
Tuesday, June 3rd
Mom texted me from Paris that she insisted once again that I needed the massage weekly. I wrote her back a text that continued our ongoing argument, but the text didn't want to send. After the second attempt, I realized there was a different perspective, and I didn't need to send the text at all. I enjoyed the massage without complaint.
Actually, I had my monthly appointment with my nutritionist, and I told her about my dad's death. I also do work with her about emotional issues that affect my health, so it was completely up her alley to help me clarify issues around what had happened. The main point we came to was that Dad was now free from the cloud of mental illness that made it harder and harder to connect with him. I realized that just as I still felt close to Humphrey, the same could happen with Dad, and now I would be talking with him in his purest form. I really liked the idea of connecting with the dad who sent me nothing but love and goodwill. It was easy for me to look up and see him smiling down at me.
I also called the funeral home and realized I had to fill out the form they sent completely. I talked to my sister, who gave me information she had that I didn't, and I managed to complete the form. Then I got stuck Docusigning it. I would have to complete it tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 4th
The priest from my church came just before lunch, and we had a very nice conversation about Dad. In talking with my aunt and my cousin, I learned that Dad passed away on what would have been my late cousin’s 40th birthday. I really liked the idea that he came to his uncle and helped him transition. My priest confirmed that he had heard stories and seen things firsthand that told him this was a common occurrence. My mom saw my stepfather talking to the ceiling (to someone who wasn't there) just before he collapsed and died. That's all the proof I need. It's very comforting as well.
J&B visited me in the afternoon and brought me an order of spring rolls from a Thai restaurant they ate at and said was good. It looked wonderful with three long spring rolls and lettuce leaves, sauce, noodles, cucumber slices, and mint leaves. I will eat well at dinner! He tried to put a glare screen on the iPad, but it was the wrong size, so he would get the right one and try again next week. I told B about what I had just talked about with my priest, and she agreed as well. They will come again next week, and I will ask them to bring the same spring rolls, as they were very delicious!
Thursday, June 5th
Dr. R showed up with Freddie, and I told her about my dad. Then I filled her in on all the things I had processed about his passing. The thought had occurred to me that someone might think they were justified in ignoring their mentally ill parent because they couldn't connect with him/her. No, no! My sister and I talked to him as much as we could when he was alive. I only avoided him in his last year or so. I was going to let go of feeling guilty for that. Freddie sat on the bed with me two separate times, which was very wonderful. He's a cutie!
Friday, June 6th
I had gotten help and finished DocuSigning the form for the crematorium. I didn't have anything else to do today, so I spent the day catching up on my Criminal Minds episodes. The show can get intense at times, but I have watched it for 18 seasons over the years, and the characters are friends by now. My sister texted about paying a bill for her, but that will be tomorrow's task.
Saturday, June 7th
I attempted to call and pay the bill myself, and I could have done it, but the automated attendant expected you to speak very quickly, so it was difficult. I had to call back many times, but the system was working its way through until a person came on the line, and we were about to finish the transaction when the line went dead. Enough! I will have my friends that are visiting me today help me complete this later.
My stepbrother and his wife stopped by around 3:30 p.m., and the first thing I had them do was pay this bill by phone. Even with an able-bodied person dialing the phone, we had to call back once or twice, but we got it done!
Then we had a nice chat, and I was able to give them some insight into her mom, who had been visiting but was getting more and more disabled with Alzheimer's. Her mom was going to make sandwiches, and S had told her mom she didn't need one, but the sandwich got made. I said it was all her mom could do to remember her own thoughts; she did not have the capacity to take in anything else. I do have an understanding about how a confused mind works. I'll have to write an essay about it. I look forward to seeing them again after they get back from visiting their grandchild.
Sunday, June 8th
Yikes! That was a busy week filled with visitors. I hope that keeps up next week. I will have to keep texting people to keep in touch. I wrote some of my blog today, and I will finish it tomorrow. Luckily, J&B took a picture with me, so I have that for the cover photo. Have a fabulous week!
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