Monday, 4 October 2004 05:19 pm
(no subject)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deckardcanineMy mom had her birthday yesterday. To paraphrase the semi-late Victor Borge, she is 39 years old but not the least bit embarrassed about it because she was born 54 years ago. (The odds of persisting spryness are in my favor, eh? I just have to put up with my embarrassing kiddish appearance for now.) My immediate family has developed a collective bad habit of buying birthday gifts late if at all -- holiday gifts are much easier to remember -- but this time the lateness of my gift to her is in part due to my misunderstanding of the shipping time of an order.
Unfortunately, there was an event to reduce the joy. Two days ago, her mother got admitted to a hospital. This grandmother of mine has had too many physical and mental problems to count, so I'll spare details. We aren't exactly surprised, altho it was nice to know she was lucid enough to direct the ambulance drivers to the correct hospital and to remember the recent death of her daughter's father-in-law. It's not clear to me yet if she's likely to die in the next few weeks, but it won't hurt to pray.
The event highlights some contrast between the two sides of the family. My mom's parents were never the type to visit family in the hospital, no matter how much they loved each other. When my mom's dad died, his widow arranged for the funeral equivalent of an elopement: her and their children only, in bright casual garb. Also, my mom, and consequently her immediately family, has not been particularly close to her parents in decades. I wouldn't be surprised if shed more tears for her father-in-law than she will for her mother. (The funeral of two weeks ago was, in fact, the only time I can remember my mom crying.)
Unfortunately, there was an event to reduce the joy. Two days ago, her mother got admitted to a hospital. This grandmother of mine has had too many physical and mental problems to count, so I'll spare details. We aren't exactly surprised, altho it was nice to know she was lucid enough to direct the ambulance drivers to the correct hospital and to remember the recent death of her daughter's father-in-law. It's not clear to me yet if she's likely to die in the next few weeks, but it won't hurt to pray.
The event highlights some contrast between the two sides of the family. My mom's parents were never the type to visit family in the hospital, no matter how much they loved each other. When my mom's dad died, his widow arranged for the funeral equivalent of an elopement: her and their children only, in bright casual garb. Also, my mom, and consequently her immediately family, has not been particularly close to her parents in decades. I wouldn't be surprised if shed more tears for her father-in-law than she will for her mother. (The funeral of two weeks ago was, in fact, the only time I can remember my mom crying.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
You'd be surprised at the degree to which a small, properly maintained crop of facial hair can mitigate this.
no subject
FWIW, my mom saw a recent picture of Rain Luong and thought he looked even younger than I do. I wouldn't go that far, but I can add youthful looks to my list of commonalities with him.
Unfortunately, in some ways I'm a little too mature. My hairline already threatens to ride off into the sunset.
no subject