Three Holidays and a Funeral

[mijan]

I'm going to be out of touch for the next few days.  Yes, I'll check my e-mail on my godmother's computer, but I'm going to be far too distracted and busy to hang around the computer.  The morning after Christmas, we got a phone call from my godmother, letting us know that my grandmere is fading fast.  She's 94, and we were expecting this, but it's never easy when it happens. 

She's still alive as of this morning, but they don't expect her to last until New Years.  At this point, she's stopped eating, and she's barely responding.  She lived a wonderful life, so this isn't a tragedy, but she *is* my last living grandparent, and she and I were always very close.  Yesterday morning, she asked for my mother to come, and now, we know that she's basically waiting for us to arrive, to see us one more time.  My mother is her only child, and my sister and I are her only grandchildren.  She has a lot of nieces and nephews though, and many cousins.  We have a large extended family, but a very small immediate family.  Still, we're Acadian - to us, family is family.  It'll be okay.

So, we're leaving in about 5 minutes for Nova Scotia.  We'll be driving up through Maine, into New Brunswick, and then we'll take the ferry from St. John to Digby, Nova Scotia.  From there, we'll drive south to the village that my family is from.  It's about 25 minutes drive east of Yarmouth, for anyone who knows the area.  We'll be okay, the weather is supposed to be fair, and we have three capable drivers.  I just want everyone to know where I'll be, so that nobody wonders.

Take care, and I hope everyone has had a good Solstice and Christmas, is having a happy Hannukah, and will have a happy New Year. 

*hugs*
~Michelle

Comments

[halo4.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

[augustfai.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Be safe and happy early New Year.

[webbapettigrew.livejournal.com]

Hey, I live at the second to last exit in the US on I-95, in Houlton. If you're crossing into Woodstock, you'll be about three miles from my house!!!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I`m not sure exactly where we get off of Rte. 95. Houlton? I`ll go take a peek on Yahoo maps and figure out where you are. My sister and I will have to drive back through the area in a few days. Interested in a brief visit?

*hugs*

[cecilydolce.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry for your, well- impending loss. ::hugs::

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well, she already died. Literally just as we arrived. I`m okay, but it`s never easy.
*hugs*

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

*robed embrace*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs back*

[avidbeader.livejournal.com]

*hugs and thoughts for you and your family*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs*

[singlewoman.livejournal.com]

My prayers are with you and your family. Yes, 94 is a good long life, but death is never easy. Take care of yourself, remember all the good things about your grandmother and make sure to share those stories. Even if people have heard them over and over, the stories keep your grandmother alive. That's how it worked for me when my father died.

Drive safely, keep us posted.

**HUGS**

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, there are many good stories for my grandmere. She was a very spunky lady, with a lot of wit and humour. She was a true Leo, and I`ve been told that I take after her. I`ve got her eyes.

She died early this morning, just as we arrived. I was told that her last hours were peaceful, and that she wasn`t in any pain, which is the most we can hope for. As for her memory... Acadians don`t forget each other. I still know the songs she used to sing, and I`ll keep singing them.

[mu51ng-drag0n.livejournal.com]

I remember that not even the kindest word helps when you lose someone important, but believe me... if you need us, we'll be here.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that. And yes, it does make a difference. Like I said, she was old, and it wasn`t a sudden tragic loss, so we were as ready for it as we could be. But still, thank you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__babbes__/]

I wish you a safe trip and your grandmother her happiest final hours.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

The nurses said she was peaceful until the very end, and that she wasn`t in any pain. That`s the most we could ask for.

[viridescence]

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother, Michelle. *hugs* I can understand a little... my grandmother is 87 and long-gone to Alzheimers. Still, it will be hard when she finally passes.

Much love to you and your family, and safe travels.

aprillily (I changed my username, just so you don't wonder who the heck I am)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay, I`ll add you under the new username.

My grandmere had a little bit of dementia from old age, but not Alzheimers. It`s never easy, but we called her on Christmas day, and she was able to coherently respond to my mother on the phone, even if just for a moment.

[araythea.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Be safe and take care.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

We`re safe, we`re in Nova Scotia now, and it`ll be okay. Thank you. *hugs*

[eleal.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry! I hope you make it to Nova Scotia safely and arrive there in time. Losing someone you love is always hard, but being so close to the holidays can make it even worse.

*hugs*

[mimoletnoe.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear about your grandmother, honey.

I hope you can make it in time...

But it's a good way to go. Just... stop living and all. Almost like it is a conscious decision which somehow makes the forthcoming loss less painful.
Dunno

[incapricious.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Take care of yourself. I'll be thinking of you this week.

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

Je suis désolé pour votre perte, et je prierai pour votre famille, ma chere.
Having recently lost three members of our family, I sympathize. My grandfather's brother was the only one who still spoke Polish and he had so many stories to tell. When he passed I felt as if the last link to my heritage was gone, and there was still so much I wanted to ask him.
I think no matter how much time we have with our loved ones, though, we still would wish for more.

avec beaucoup d'amour,
BrendaLee

[wintermoon3.livejournal.com]

oh sweetie, I'm so sorry I didn't see this earlier. Hope you're holding up all right. *big hugs*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I`m hanging in there. She died *just* as we arrived at the building, but we didn`t make it to the room on time. I`ll be okay. She died at peace, and her spirit moved on immediately. I could tell. It was as it should be. Doesn`t make it easy, but I`ll be okay.

Oh, and I got your Christmas card, and the package of goodies. I don`t know if I said already, but thank you. The card arrived just as we were leaving, and I read it on the road, driving to New Brunswick. Thank you. I had some of the Tim Tams today. *hugs*

[firebird157.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever sounds quite the right thing to say when someone loses someone close.

But I'm sorry for your loss. Look after yourself.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I will. I`ll be okay, don`t worry. Like I said, it`s sad, but her death wasn`t a tragedy. We knew it was time. *hugs*

[ice-is-blue.livejournal.com]

I didn't see this until just now. *hugs* It's good that you got there. Take care of yourself. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. We`re here, and we`re okay. The wake is this afternoon, and the funeral is tomorrow. My sister and I are driving back right after the funeral, and my mom is coming back with one of her cousins the next day. But either way, we`re all okay here. Thank you. *hugs*

[padys.livejournal.com]

Oh. Sorry I didn't see this earlier. I just recently lost my grandfather, and known that nothing anyone says can really encompass the entire situation. All I can say is that my thoughts will be with you this week. Take care. *hugs*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs back*

[imperial-dragon.livejournal.com]

*hugs tightly*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* Thanks, sweetie.

[cynthee.livejournal.com]

Hello :]

I`ve just finished reading your epilogue of Eclipse, &I must say I am completely in love with it<3 Mhm ; I've left an extremely confusing review though [my ff.net's name is Sapphrine x)], so yeah. Anyway, I thought that I'd drop by and just say hi. &Add you. Yeah, so thank you so much for the beautiful story<3

Oh, &I've really sorry about your grandmother. It's been almost a month since you last posted this, so I guess she may have passed on already, but still, I wish the best for your family.

With love,
Cynthia

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I got your review! Thank you! And I replied on FF.net. I've got AIM. My screen name there is pitcha126. I don't log on often, but I'll try to be on over the next few days, to try to catch you. In fact, I'm on right now. Hope to chat with you soon!

And yes, my grandmother died three days after Christmas. She lived a long and full life. I miss her, but I'm okay.

[fiona-fawkes.livejournal.com]

elsie said you needed a ticket for Lumos. My RL friend was going to go and so now there's an extra registration and a spot in our hotel room at the JW Marriott for Wednesday thru Saturday nights. If you're interested in either, let me know and I can pass your email on to her. Cheers!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Please yes! Oh god yes, and I'll even pay her for more than she paid for the ticket. I've got a spot in a hotel room that my friends were reserving, but I'm desperate for the ticket. Please ask if she's still got it? *begs and offers cookies and warm woollen socks*