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!!!

[cecilydolce.livejournal.com]

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

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

*robed embrace*

[avidbeader.livejournal.com]

*hugs and thoughts for you and your family*

[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**

[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.

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

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

[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)

[araythea.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Be safe and take care.

[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

[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*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

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

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs back*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs*

[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.

[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.

[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.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

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

[wintermoon3.livejournal.com]

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