and no one will read this until monday…I will blog. Because my timing is always so ON like that.
Everyone is still very shaken up around here, but we’re doing what we can. When I found out that a couple of people were arranging meals for Claudia and her SIL and BIL, I jumped at the chance. Because doing something, ANYTHING, is better than nothing. And I can remember how grateful my family was at the homemade meals delivered to our door weekly by friends, church members, etc, when my brother was sick and then continued after he died.
I dropped off my delivery at Jacquie’s house last night, so that she could take it over today - understandably, Claudia doesn’t feel she can face all her friends right now. So Jacquie is our go-between, and tonight Claudia and the vegetarian SIL and BIL will be dining on eggplant lasagna, italian bread, cesar salad, and then sipping some calming tea from Yogi.
I am jumpy around the subject of death - it seems a total betrayal to me. As if, somehow, by taking my brother so young, that meant that OK, my loved ones and I would be spared any further loss ever again. Which is silly, I know…but it seems like a breach of contract between me and God. Hey God? No more, OK? Thanks.
Compounding this is the email I got today from my mom, reminding me that my dad’s birthday is in November, and he’ll be 60, and how we should be thinking about flying up for the event, because remember? None of the other men in his family made it that far. This is true - his dad died of a heart attack in his 50s. The only of my great uncles from that side that i knew died when I was young - heart attack. The others died before I was born, but not of heart attacks (one suicide, and one unfortunate late night falling off the porch accident). My father hasn’t had a heart attack, but he did have bypass (triple? quadruple? can’t remember) about 7 years ago. So I read this email has “HI, YOUR FATHER IS A TICKING TIME BOMB, PLEASE COME HOME.”
So now I feel a tiny ulcer in my stomach forming.
DEAR JESUS, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MY FATHER UNTIL HE IS VERY VERY VERY OLD.
THANK YOU.
LOVE,
ME
and ohhhh, what a craptacular way to end the week, so here are some lovely pictures of lovely growing things.
Our first ever eggplant. Look how tiny and cute! The variety is “japanese hybrid,” so I’m not entirely sure how big it will get.
Even eggplant flowers are beautiful.
I have a weakness for Ikea plants. Even though we have NO MORE ROOM for any more plants, at least those that require “sunlight” and “occasional watering.” I love the pots, too. There were more designs in that series, too…so maybe next time…
I have to concentrate on all the beautiful things around me, so I won’t focus on more unpleasant things. I promise more uplifting posts to come, especially as I will be meeting my most favorite podcasting people ever, Kris and Betsy Smith of Croncast fame tomorrow afternoon. W00T!
Hey - I read your blog on Friday night. Clearly, I have no life. Claudia is very much on my mind too. I truly appreciate her “checking in” with us via the blog. It is good to “hear from her” - somehow it makes my heart ache for her a little less.
We have those eggplants too! I meant to take a pic of the flowers too but - bad blogger - I forgot. Ours are about twice that size right now - I don’t know when to pick them either!
My dad lived longer than any of the other men in his immediate family.
He still has one sister living.
No matter how long they live, it’s never long enough for those of us who love them.
KW - we only have the one plant in a pot, but lots of flowers budding out of it. we’ll soon have more than I know what to do with!
Janice - that’s comforting to hear. after his heart surgery, he went on a health kick. but has been slacking the past few years. and he has a lot of stress at work. Ugh…it’s too scary to think about.
I still blog on weekends.
And I know what you mean about your dad. I can’t really talk about my dad right now. It makes me cry.
I blog on weekends. I just wind up posting the same drivel I always do
I wonder if eggplant blossoms are edible, and if so would they stay pretty if you cooked them tempura style?
I think that ANYTHING would taste good cooked up tempura style. Dipped in ponzu sauce…mmmm…