Not so Merry Christmas, Not so Happy New Year

So, how do I remember this Christmas?  Another one for the books.

I sent this message out Christmas night to my trainers at Tails-U-Win:

Please pass along as you see fit.

Tripp, Tyson and I will not be in classes this week.  12/23 my sister, Darcie passed away.  This was a complete shock.  I am headed to Atlanta with my sister Melody to get things started.  I do not know if I will be back in time for our agility class on the 2^nd. 

The pups are staying with my friend Carol.  She doesn’t drive so no classes for them.

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Friday night my phone rang with a North Carolina number.  Since I don’t know anyone in NC, I didn’t pick up.  A few minutes later it rang again with an NC number.  Something said “pick it up” and I did.  It was a manager from the firm where Darcie worked.  He needed permission to break down the door to her condo as she wasn’t answering phone calls, texts or emails.  Dar had an incredible work ethic, as he spoke my stomach clenched and I new she was gone.  But I could not give permission so I gave him Melody’s number.  Over an hour later Mel confirmed it.  Darcie passed away sitting on her sofa with the computer and phone in front of her and her glasses beside her.  There were eggs and milk on the counter, so she was probably going to make breakfast, and then she wasn’t.  My wonderful “big sis” was gone.  Home to be with Mom and Dad Cyr.  She was only 66, and I had been pestering her to retire so we could play… 

I kept this news to myself, as my step-family didn’t know Darcie and I didn’t want to darken Betty’s Christmas by telling her that Melody’s sister had died.

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We had the usual gathering at Betty’s nephew’s house in New Britain for Christmas Eve.  I thought I was picking up Betty at Duncaster but when I got there she wasn’t there.  Eventually I got a hold of Daniel and discovered that he picked up both his dad (Ron) and Betty.  I managed to find my way to New Britain and was only a little late.

I had made 36 deviled eggs (18 hard boiled eggs) and bought a platter of shrimp for the hors d’oveurs and delivered them all.  I also had a number of things for Alex and Rachel and Rowan.  I had hoped to meet my grandnephew but they weren’t there.  So, I’ve yet to meet the boy.

As always, it was a very nice gathering.

Christmas day, Daniel, Betty, Ron and I had dinner at Duncaster.  I got the lobster and it was wonderful.  After lunch we went back to Betty’s and eventually I felt I had to tell Betty my sad news.  She looked almost angry with me for not telling her sooner, but I didn’t want a pity party nor be a drag on everyone else’s holiday. 

I got home around 3:30 and had the car packed and ready to go by 4.  Sadly, Carol wasn’t going to be home until later and I couldn’t leave the puppies off with out her being home.  I didn’t like leaving the boys as it was, but when you have to, you have to. 

I left Carol’s house around 6 p.m. and started the long drive to South Carolina.  I got to Exit 323 in VA around 1:30 a.m. and climbed into the back of the car to rest.  I did sleep for about 15 minutes, and stayed in the back for about 3 hours, but it was useless.  I was cold and uncomfortable. Normally, I’d be driving Rigbee with my own bathroom and bed on board.  But not this time.  This time I’m driving Figure, the Rogue with the necessities on board but no comfy bed and clean bathroom.  It is easier to drive the car, and I can go faster but I miss Rigbee and my pups.

I stopped at the North Carolina welcome center and got the directions to Little River.  I also stopped at a McDonalds and slept in the parking lot for about an hour.  I don’t remember what time I got to Mel’s but then we immediately had to go out and get gas and snacks for the next day’s drive to Atlanta.

My alarm was set on the cell phone but I didn’t have the volume up and did not hear it so overslept by 2 ½ hours!  So we were late leaving.  We got to Atlanta around 3 or 4 p.m. and went directly to the condo.  Johnna got there an hour or so later. 

The players in this drama:  Raelene, the (not legally) adopted sister

Melody:  now the eldest sibling; and the reason I was adopted in the first place; one of my best friends.

George:  1 year younger than me, brilliant musician. 

Johnna:  5 years younger than me.  Smart, beautiful, musical.  “little sis”

Chris:  10 years younger, adored little brother (he’s 6’2”!), brilliant computer guru

 

Darcie was immensely talented with music and crafts.  She created wonderful craft items, repurposing things and creating beauty.

Johnna, Melody and I spent the next several days hunting for a will or any other info that’s needed – like Darcie’s social security number, where her storage container is, her bank, lawyer, etc.

Meanwhile, Johnna’s getting text messages from George that we should be doing this that and the other thing…  I really wanted to grab the phone and tell him to get his ass down here and help with the hunting.  I didn’t, but by God, I wanted to.  Thankfully in all of this Chris did come.  He used his Hilton points to get a room for Mel and I and then for him and helped out by taking Darcie’s computer and electronics and searching out her SSN and hunting for a will.  And any other info he could find.  Then Friday night, Johnna’s rental car was stolen.  I called 911 around 11:15p.m. and was put on HOLD!!!  Don’t ask what else can go wrong, or it will.  The Atlanta police screwed up completely and Mel and Johnna got NO SLEEP waiting in the lobby of Darcie’s building ALL NIGHT for them to show up.  They never did.  Chris drove us (me and him) back to the hotel around 2:30 and I got some sleep, but Mel and Johnna didn’t get in until after 4 a.m. and still had not talked to the police.  OMG.

They (Mel, Johnna and Chris) decided that Chris would rent Mel a car and I could go home.  He was leaving that afternoon, too.  It was Saturday.  I did not get on the road until after 12:30 p.m., leaving Mel at the Condo.  Johnna was going to her friend Marty’s house to try to rent a car outside of Atlanta – with the Peach Bowl Saturday night, hotel rooms and cars were in short supply.

I got home Sunday afternoon and picked up my dogs on the way.  I’ve hated being without them.  Blackie was delighted when we came in and has been close by ever since. 

Last Thursday night, Don Sineti, shantyman extraordinaire passed away.  I’ve been crushing on him since I was 17 and illegally in a bar, enjoying The Morgans every Sunday night.  For years, Sunday nights were reserved for Mad Murphy’s and The Morgans, singing Irish songs, folk songs and sea shanties.  Until Covid, I was going over to the Main Pub here in town to see (and hear) Don with his “Americana” group on occasional Sundays.  I had been thinking of going all fall but never got there, now he’s gone, too.

Today I got a message from my former manager, George Moran’s wife, Virginia.  It seems George has left this world, too.  George was a wonderful manager and just a special, special person. 

In the last nine months, in order, these are significant losses:

Mom (Jackie) Cyr

Kathleen Jarrard

J. Helene Blakeslee

Nancy Yungk

Ronnie Schoelzen

Darcie Spruance

Don Sineti

George Moran

 

I am NOT looking for sympathy, I just want to record why I’ve not been blogging regularly and why I’m just not goofy these days.  It’s hard to blog when you’re struggling to find the light.

Tripp and I did NOT make it class 1/2, I was too tired and upset to go; Tyson and I did make it last Thursday, 1/5.  My classmates were absolutely wonderful.  I wasn't going to go, but Ty deserved it, and after going I know that I needed it.  These people are wonderful, supportive friends and I am very grateful for them.

Happy FUCKING New Year.

 

After Maine

Well, it was a wonderful visit to Maine.  As always, the drive up was lovely.  Much of the way you are driving through unpopulated woodland.  It’s beautiful to me, and I love seeing nature.  It was also great fun to watch the changing of the colors on the trees.  In northeast Connecticut, the trees were really close to peak colors, Massachusetts was greener, southern Maine was a little more colorful, but north of Augusta was truly colorful. 

With the two pups we stopped three times.  If they didn’t need to go but since I did, they went out, too.  Plus I needed to eat. 

Gas was more expensive, but at least I didn’t need to fill up again. 

We reached the Paul Bunyan campground around 6:30. The site was very nice, wooded and next to the pond.  Since we’re past mosquito season, being near the pond was nice.  Jerry met me there and helped me disconnect the little trailer, and I backed in.  We were set for our temporary home.

I set up the dog pen and it took me three days to Tyson-proof it.  He’s a little Houdini sometimes.  I need to get more metal stakes to drive into the ground and keep it upright. 

So, I spent at least part of every day with Jerry and then Jerry and Grace, and Paula (and her family) and Todd (and his girlfriend) and it was wonderful.  Todd came over and checked out Rigbee with me then came by again and dropped of a TON of wonderful camper items, including polish, toilet paper, cutting board for over the stove, etcetera!! 

The gps I bought from Shopgoodwill.com doesn’t work.  Very frustrating.  Luckily, while I ran out of data after watching most of the Uconn Football game Saturday, I already knew the way home, once I found I95 South in Bangor. 

Grace looks very good.  I was relieved to see her looking so well.  We almost lost her last spring, and her hands will never be what they once were.  Still, we have her and she still has her wonderful sense of humor.  If I didn’t know, and didn’t see her hands, I wouldn’t know.  She and Jerry are Very Important to me. 

So, we had a wonderful week in beautiful Maine.  So good to go, so good to come home.

A small park, next to the Penobscot River. 

Tripp pillows his head on Tyson's rump, on the camper sofa.

Maine...

Sending Crazy Cousin Louise Away       

 

CCL was going to Maine to visit cousins.  It’s good for her to get away for a while.  It has been a tough year.  So, I started to prep the camper.  Still no oven/microwave, the generator door is still damaged, and I’m really pissed off about that.  But, Rigbee is going to Maine.  I put the old toaster oven in where the micro/oven was and picked up some dinners at October Kitchen.  It’s good to go.  I hope.

I’ve noticed that the hitch ball is a tad high for the teeny tiny trailer, so I picked up another receiver with a 6” drop.  The new one is fits a 2 inch receiver, which is the proper size for Rigbee.  The current one belongs to Figure, the Rogue and it’s 1 inch whatever, so I had a converter to reduce the size of the hitch receiver from 2 inches to 1 and whatever.  Well, that little piece has been in there a while and had no intention of coming out.  I used WD40 and my little sledge hammer, and still no dice.  So, where do you go for info?  The Internet!!!

I watched a couple of videos, and laughed as people used acetylene torches and melted the metal (and usually part of the attached vehicle) to remove stuck hitches.  First of all, I don’t have an acetylene torch and secondly, I don’t want to melt Rigbee, thirdly, I’d like to have that converter in case I need it again.  But heat is the way to go.  Nope, not a blow dryer, I used a propane torch.  It’s what I have, know how to use, and after about 15 minutes of heating the darned thing came out.  YAY!!! 

I’m so proud of myself.

Funny how such a small thing could make me so happy.  So today when I connected up the little trailer, I was delighted to see that the drop was much more appropriate.  It actually rides level instead of canted.  But the drama was not done.  I knew I had another 1 7/8 inch ball, but had no idea where I put it when I cleaned off the kitchen counter top where it was hanging out for months.  It only took me a half-hour or so to remember where I put it and the hitch pins.  

Hitch receivers and hitch balls are heavy.  It’s a royal pain to put them together.  I just hope I got it all tight enough.

It’s almost packed, now.  A couple of last minute items left including egg salad and bacon!

This morning I couldn’t find the keys.  They were missing.  I searched everywhere. They are always in the basket on the back of the kitchen door.  Since I’d just used them YESTERDAY and the day before they should have been right on the top with the jumble of lock keys.  But not there.  Not in the pocket of my pants, no where to be found.

Because they were in the bottom of the basket on the back of the kitchen door. 

Oh, well.  They’re off to Maine.