la_samtyr | Yesterday -- and Today

Well, yesterday was an incredibly *long* day, so I am going to a cut now. Also **a lot** about funerals and funeral customs and a bit of dark humor, so be warned.

Yesterday started out ok, all things considered but of course it started to get weird. Of course.

For starters, my Aunt Lee was late because... I am not sure exactly what happened, but they were late. And naturally, no-one at the church had any of their cell phone numbers (my cousin Lyn wasn't able to come because she has already used up her time off with unexpected hospitalizations, and she is the only one whose cell number I had... Yeah.) Anyway, it's getting closer for the funeral to start and everyone is wondering where they are, and if something serious has happened. Now, they (my aunt Lee, my cousin Mickey, his (second) wife Dotty, and Mickey's daughter Vicky) were at the rosary the night before and they planned to find a hotel after they arrived. So we knew they were in town, just not where.

So I did the only thing possible -- I called Lyn. [A side note: this is one of the few times when cell phones really come in handy and are worth the bother.] Lyn offered to give me Mickey's number but I had no way to write it down; when she offered to text me, I had to tell her my battery was almost dead and I wouldn't be able to read it and begged her to please call the others. She did, and managed to call me back to tell me: "They're on..." before my phone died. *sighs* But at least I was able to tell everyone who was waiting that: "they're on their way", and then I waited out on the steps to watch for them.

Luckily, they pulled up a few minutes later and about that time everyone outside realized there was no way my aunt could manage over a dozen very high, steep steps with a walker. D'oh! So I went down to explain where the handicapped entrance was, then back in to tell the priest that they would need help coming in. But they managed ok, and the funeral Mass itself was beautiful.

Then there was a brief luncheon (it very nice to be able to visit and collect e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers) and then it was time for the burial -- which was in Kearney, not Hastings.

Now my Blazer has been acting funny, so I decided that I was not going to try and drive to Kearney but rather ride with someone. Unfortunately, there was only one car going to Kearney -- that of my cousin Jim, and he had to leave right after the burial in order to make his flight in Omaha. So I rode with Jim up there, going by the back roads and we saw a whole lot more of small towns and country than Jim had seen in a very long time, if ever, because it was a good hour's drive, and just... yeah. But I am glad I went because Jim and I were the only two people there.

So... I rode back with the funeral directors, adding to my list of rather odd distinctions: that of being an actual [not merely honorary] pallbearer, but also riding in a funeral coach (aka hearse) as a live passenger.

But wait! The day was not over yet!

Arriving back in Hastings, I decided to run a quick errand at K-Mart. The Blazer started rough but seemed ok, so errand accomplished, I started home, intending to stop downtown for yet another quick snack. And just as I was driving along, on 2nd St., the Blazer quit. As in the battery light came on, and there was zero power -- except for the steering for which I was very grateful. I managed to glide into a parking space, and then I started making calls. First to the accountant to give him the heads up on what had happened and I would be facing a 'unknown' repair job & tow, and then to the mechanic I use to "fix stuff." The mechanic/tow truck came (at least I don't have to worry about an impound fee from the City of Hastings) and he *thinks* it is only the fuel pump but he isn't sure because he has so many jobs ahead that he won't be able to look at it until W/Th. at the soonest...

>>.<<

So I called Summer but I couldn't reach her, so I did the next thing, which was to call Shockey -- who, ironically had just arrived in Harvard from his work site in Hastings, so he had to double back just to give me a ride back.

zzzzzzz

As for today, I have spent it napping off and on. I am *so tired* and my neck, shoulders and back really ache from all of the tension. Ugh.

Oh yes, and I am watching the snow come down in big, fat, soft flakes. Very pretty, so far.