Money Makes It All Better

Got a nice little check from my Grandma. Yay, grandmas! Yay, being 33 and having your Grandma give you money! I feel like Paris Hilton or something. Mooching off the work of past generations.

Anyway, I know they say money can't buy happiness, but I'm feeling pretty happy right now that I got some money.

I'm Taking a Mulligan

Well, I woke up at 6 a.m., got dressed and prettied up, gathered my luggage, left my hotel room, and proceeded to fall down a full flight of stairs. The only witness was a security camera. Somewhere in Minnesota, some security guards got a good laugh at that, I'm sure. Think Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford.

After determining nothing was probably broken, sprained, or bleeding (miraculously) and that my worst injury appeared to be the missing skin from one of my hands, I gathered my things with as much dignity as I could muster and left the hotel.

Around 8:15 a.m. I remembered for the first time that it was my birthday, and called my mom from the road. During the conversation, she asked if I use tampons. Umm, what? Turns out she grabbed up a ton of free tampon samples at her gym despite the fact she doesn't have any need for such a product, and she offered them to me as a gift. Happy birthday, indeed.

I made it to Uncle D's house, where my dad was staying, and got an unfortunate glimpse of my Uncle D in his underwear.

Then we went to my Uncle R's funeral, which was not attended by two of my other uncles because they had made Jerry-Springer type plans to tell off the widow. My Uncle D told them if they couldn't attend the funeral and behave themselves, not to come at all. Uncle D is their older brother, and they listened. It's very disappointing that the two younger uncles couldn't set aside their petty personal feelings to pay their respects to Uncle R, but it's somehow comforting that sibling dynamics remain in place even into people's 40s, 50s, and 60s.

The funeral was, you know, a funeral. But when you're mourning the loss of someone who stopped being the person you once knew, it is somehow not as bad. Uncle R wasn't Uncle R anymore, and most of us had mourned his loss years ago. But I consulted with my Cousin A, and she too is freaked out about the first of that generation dying--and maybe more than I am, since Uncle R was younger than her dad (Uncle D).

Following the funeral, I went to the after-gathering. I spent most of my time with Uncle R's kids. They're cousins I don't see all that often, but I used to hang out with the daughter a lot in the summer when we were kids. The son's always been adorable, and he still is. He'll be a cute little lawyer in a year or so. Well, maybe not "little"...he's over 6'0".

At 5 p.m., I left and drove around 8 hours to get home. And here I am. Worst birthday ever. I was reconciled to the funeral and all that, because I'm not totally self-centered. But the falling down the stairs (and I am hella-sore, so I know I'll wake up stiff as a board tomorrow) and the tampon present, I can not tolerate. I call do-overs.

A Better Day

Yesterday, I had class all day...and a quiz in each one. Then went to a 9-11 memorial service in the evening.

Today, I only have my evening class and work for a few hours, so I will have time to run some errands and pack. Tomorrow right after classes I'll be heading out of town for my uncle's funeral, which will be Friday morning.

Friday is my Scottie Pippen birthday, and I'll be surrounded by tons of family. So there's that.

Unsettled

My dad's brother died. He's the first of my parents' siblings to pass away. He's also the one just older than my dad. He looked a lot like my dad, too, in earlier years.

He suffered from early-onset Alzheimer's, and I've known his death was going to be fairly soon. It's still very upsetting, though, for mostly selfish reasons.

I May Not Have Much...

...but at least I have food.

Got a phone call from my niece, who is at my brother's house on a weeknight.

Me: Why are you at your dad's?

Her: Because my mom doesn't have any food.

But I guarantee she has cigarettes.

It's nice that two of her three children have a strong safety net, but God help the one who only has her.
_____

Anyway, I should remark on the title...I actually have quite a lot, but like most Americans, I think I could use more.