Friday we said our final good-bye to Grandma. I will love you forever!
He said
This week, Friday to be exact we had Mom’s interment. We had a small service like she had wished and were able to finally lay Mom’s ashes to rest with Dad’s in their niche in the mausoleum at Forest Lawn. She didn’t want much a of a production made—she would have wanted a time for us to be together and bask in the good memories we had with her. And we made good on that for her. We were delighted to see some of our California Cousins there in Dave, Peggie and Deb who made the trip all the way from San Francisco! As well sisters, brothers and all of Dad’s living siblings that were able to make it, were there too. It meant a lot to be surrounded by so much family and so much love!
After the service, we got together – the immediate family – to have dinner together like we often did at the Teeter homestead on Vaubois our place that became our London home after moving here from Wallaceburg. Mom & Dad sold that house around he time that they moved into long term caressive years ago… But, it was never about the place we chose to get together—it was always about the who that was getting together. As time and life had taken four very important members of the family (Linda, Greg, Dad, and now Mom), we realize just how important these moments we get together are. So there was laughter and togetherness to put some joy back into this battered family.
This week for me was starting to get on top of all the estate settling for Mom as well as some lingering elements of Dad’s estate to boot. In both of their cases, I was and am the primary executor with Matthew being the next in the line of command. Matthew had been a huge help – attending every meeting and appointment to be a second set of eyes, ears and being ready to ask the questions I miss. With any luck we should be able to get the lion’s share of this sorted out in the next three to four weeks, but there still is a fair chunk of work that needs to be done as well as lawyers that need to be involved. But so far the help we have been getting from the banks, to the financial advisors, the insurance agent and the lawyers and been empathetic and supportive. Thankfully Mom & Dad were reasonably organized and prepared for this so it hasn’t been too much of a mess, but I will look forward to it being all settled and done with for sure.
Unlike last weekend where we were able to sneak up to the trailer Saturday night after work, we couldn’t this weekend because I had to work the whole weekend. The trade off at work however is a couple of half days this week, and I am off Tuesday. Then, as of Friday at noon, I am off work for a full week. We will spend most of that week, Danielle & I, at the trailer. I am really looking forward to that, as with all that has been going on the last few weeks and the majority of it being some heavy things, the time relaxing is much needed. It will be the first real multi day visit at the trailer and will finally feel like we’re using that space for what its intended. And, for the most part as we’re settled so there won’t be any bigger jobs to tackle. It truly will be about having time off the regular rate race!
There wasn’t really a lot about Emelia this week. She’s moved on to her final marks and exams to wrap up her high school journey and has started to plan her summer to remember before she is off to university in the fall. We’ve been able to peg away at her basement suite in a way that she’s shown patience with all that is going on, and also because we’re are really inching our way very close to the finish line where she can finally paint the room and declare it her own (and done!) She’s ready to be done high school and can’t wait for exams to wrap up. And, I can’t say I really blame her – remembering how I felt at her age at that time. She is ready to start the next journey of life!
She said
The last few weeks have been a lot—hell the last few years have been a lot. This week we said our final good-bye to Helen. As Helen wished it was a quiet service with just her siblings, children and grandchildren. Once we had the service at the interment we had a little bit of a larger event but again only family. John’s cousins from California made the long trip to be with us as a family and it meant the world to all of us. The minster did an incredible job with the eulogy and really captured Helen and her love for her family. The day was peaceful and quiet and honestly what we really needed.
The week leading into the service was really busy, especially for Emelia. We were warned from friends with older kids that the last year of high school is a really busy one, not only with the university/college applications, the open houses, the events, graduation, all the lasts, the prom, the special events, big year end projects, exams, and all the emotions to the end of high school. What we are also finding with Emelia going to university is that university seems to start before high school is even done. Not only are they choosing their schools and the stress of waiting for the acceptance letters but now we are working with Emelia already with course selection. The courses for first years open very soon so I have been trying to help her map out course options. I am so lucky to work at the University that Emelia will attend in the fall, one of my colleagues offered to walk through course options with Emelia and once Emleia is done exams she and I can start mapping out her first choices and then map our a schedule and get her enrolled. Emelia is feeling all of this decision overload, she commented to me can I be done high school before I do this. Knowing her once she is done this she will be able to really relax and enjoy this summer.
Summer is just around the corner for her and the plans are already in full swing. Once exams are done she will be spending as much time with her friends before some are gone for the summer and she has a few cottage/beach trips planned for the first couple days post exams. Emelia and her rugby girls are leaving on Thursday for an overnight cottage trip in Grand Bend and a few days later her best friend group are hoping to head for a trip again to Grand Bend to celebrate Bri’s 18th birthday. It is already sounding like an epic summer for her.
Our summer is starting to feel closer, John and I leave for a week off soon for the trailer and man do we really need it. It has been a really stressful few months and this week off just the two of us is exactly what we need! The countdown is on!