felicula | (no subject)

I am so damn glad we came out here to Buffalo. Cooped up in the apartment, I kept feeling like I was going crazy: shaking, crying, pacing...

Getting to

ninepointsatyr's apartment was an intense homecoming for me. I am not alone. Each and every one of us there loved

keepersrosered. I saw the same emotions I felt reflected in the faces of those around me. The hugs are priceless to me. And, over the course of the evening,

ninepointsatyr surprised me by pointing out that I was smiling. And I was, a lot. The tears gradually gave way to the comfort of old camaraderie, and manic humor melted into sincere hilarity.

I think I'm going to leave the details of the evening for those who were there, but I needed to say that tonight was pretty damn special to me. No, it doesn't bring her back, but it shows me that the years have not dissolved the family that grew up around her.

When

mechanchaos and I left, I kept thinking, "I love these guys," over and over again.

I mean it. I want to do things better this time. I want to make more time to see folks, and to keep in touch when I can't. And, if any of you find your way over here from the Buffalo contingent would like to friend me and vice versa, just drop me a comment.

I needed this. I felt so much more myself. I found a self that I didn't realize I was missing. The grief will wax and wane. The sense of family is a blessing that I hope will endure.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She got married, had (blanking now whether 1 or 2), lived in her folks' old place on Lincoln for a time, then moved south. West Virginia I think?

We plan on attending both sets of visiting hours today and the small gathering afterwards, at which point it will be like 10pm or later. So, while we would have liked to visit, I don't think it is practical this time around.

There will be another memorial coming up, so we'll be back in town. As of the last I heard, that was going to be next Sunday. Perhaps Saturday evening might work?

Next Saturday we're going to a wedding at 2pm with the baby and then my parents are baby-sitting her so we can go to the reception. Sunday is her Baptism, so next weekend probably won't work, unless we were talking a visit around 11am or so on Saturday.

We'll have to plan for another time then. ***hugs***

Sounds good.