Things I expected to FINALLY have time to blog about when I got back from my cousin's wedding this past weekend:
1. That Katr and I met Jen and Sara from We (are having) So Much Fun and they were hilarious and adorable and we would lend them money and let them whiz anywhere they want! Anytime! And we can't wait to visit them in Seattle!
2. WE GOT IPHONES!! And they have CHANGED MY LIFE!!
Things I did not expect to blog about when I got back from my cousin's wedding this weekend:
1. DEATH.
The morning after my cousin's very lovely wedding, we were enjoying a little coffee party at my grandparents' place when we got the call that the bride's father - my mom's brother, my uncle - had died of a massive heart attack on his morning hike.
The good:
1. He'd spend the night before at his daughter's wonderful wedding to a fantastic guy, being surrounded by joy and love and by almost everyone in his family - and it's a HUGE family - daughters, siblings, nieces, nephews and his parents. He gave this really beautiful, poetic speech about his daughter and her new husband and brought a tear to everyone's eye. He partied like it was 1999. He couldn't stop smiling. He looked really sharp in his suit.
2. It was probably really quick.
The bad:
1. You know...everything else.
He was only 53 - 5th of 7 siblings - and it was completely unexpected and he was deeply beloved by all and so getting the news was devastating for the whole clan.
Plans for the funeral are underway and knowing my uncle to have been a joyful and ebullient man and knowing my family to be Irish, I expect the event to be epic and unforgettable and a true celebration of him and the time we got to spend with him. And that will be really cool.
Naturally, I've been in constant contact with various family members since it happened, ironing out travel plans for the funeral and such. Everyone is dealing with the news differently, but two things seem to be constant in everyone's emotional response. In addition to the waves of grief that crash into each of us every now and then, we're all totally sure we've having heart attacks. ALL THE TIME.
Anyway - I know most of you have already experienced this kind of loss and need no prompting from me to "appreciate your time with loved ones because you never know when they'll be gone." Because my response to that kind of condescending cliché is generally "Fuck you, fuckwad! You don't know my life!" But I do want to say, to Katr and to my awesome immediate family and fantastic extended family, and to all of you out there and also my dog: OH MY GOD, STAY THE FUCK ALIVE, YOU BASTARDS! And also, I love you. A lot.
