Tough Day...

Today turned out to be a lot tougher than I thought. While it was the 63rd anniversary of D-day (June 6, 1944), for myself and other members of my extended family, this was also the day we said our final goodbyes to Aunt Win (the subject of my previous post).

The day started innocently enough. I got woken at around 4am my time by my fur-babies (another post entirely) and after feeding them, and letting Mom Cat out for her Mommy moment, sat down in the living room watching them and trying to plan what I would wear (while not a church goer in the traditional sense, I wanted to look sharp in memory of Aunt Win). Once that was done, I got Gram up, dressed and helped her with Breakfast. After that, I applied her make-up, finished getting ready and then all that was needed was for my Uncle to pick us up.

As we got into the car, I was prepared to let him handle the directions himself (he has lived in this city for nearly 40 years, so I assumed he would know what he was doing, without any back seat driving from me). Brother was I wrong with absolutely disastrous results. What should have been a smooth 1/2 hr drive from our place to the church where services were held, took 45 minutes and the most convoluted way of getting to a place I have ever seen in my life. (*growling at memory*) See, I had been at this same church several years ago for the funeral of my Great Uncle Cecil, as well as having worked in the area. I should have gone with my original plan which was to compare notes with my Uncle before we left.

We went in so many different directions (all because my Uncle was using a computerized map from Google [*growling again*]) and refusing help (stubborn fool), that by the time we arrived, Gram who is not used to long car trips anymore had gotten car sick. She goes in Handy-Dart. We thought of canceling out and returning home, but by the saving grace of yours truly we were able to keep our commitment. You see, because of the weather here (overcast and drizzly), I had put Gram's raincoat on her before I left, doing it up with the buttons, to keep her warm. So when she got sick at the stomach, it was on the raincoat not what she was wearing. Well, we got inside, and paid our respects. It was quite the lovely service, complete with Aunt Win's favorite hymn's and scripture. I felt for my cousins though. Three of them got up to speak and it was all they could do to hold back the tears. You see Aunt Win was like a Second Mother to them (their own one being no picnic---another blog entry perhaps) and her loss was still hitting them quite hard. I was proud of myself for another reason, I was worried about keeping it together, but I shouldn't have been. Aunt Win was more than just my Great Aunt, she was also a terrific friend and a tireless supporter of whatever I chose to do.

Well because of what happened to Gram before we arrived, Uncle Gary and I made the decision to skip the reception, trying to prevent a possible repeat performance on the way home. And this is the other part that is making me PO'd right now. By passing up the reception it meant that Gram didn't get to see her nieces and nephews from her late husband's side of the family. All because my Uncle had to been a stubborn twit and do things his way, including complaining about how the map was screwed up every two seconds, instead of asking for help. I kept dropping hints that I knew where we were from having worked in the area, but the stubborn fool wouldn't accept them.

Two hard lessons I have learned from this day. 1) Never again will I get in the car when my Uncle is driving without comparing notes to ensure we have the quickest way possible to get to our destination and: 2) Anytime Gram and I have to go somewhere for a family function, instead of relying on my idiotic family to pick us up, I will personally track down the destination information and book Handy-Dart.

Anyway, this isn't a day to be complaining on. This is the day where we celebrate the life of a wonderful person.

Win E. 1912-2007 R.I.P. You will be missed but never forgotten