Lows and Highs

My grandma and grandpa raised nine kids in Grayville, IL, six girls and three boys, my mom being number seven. When they died in 1967-1969, they had 19 grandchildren, but four have passed now, leaving me with 14 cousins. Of those, I’m active friends with four, and those four are pretty darn important to me.

My cousin Jason, who had been in Hospice for about a year, died in his sleep sometime Tuesday morning. I picked up his sister, Kim, whose flight from Florida arrived Tuesday night at 10pm. and took her over to Grayville to her brother, Jeff’s house. That was the first of three roundtrip runs to my ancestral home over the next four days. The rain that had lingered over the last week finally cleared out on Friday, just in time for a private graveside service. The celebration at Jeff’s house spilled out into the yard, as friends gathered to remember Jason Scott Compton. His two sons and his grandbaby were also there, which choked me up a little, but mostly I enjoyed – and exhausted – myself. Funny how funerals bring people together.

My grandies have been being their gorgeous, entertaining selves. Emma went to her school’s Prom Saturday night. I literally gasped when Melissa posted these pictures! My mom always said, “pretty is as pretty does’ and this young lady both is and does.

This year’s Shannon’s School of Dance Recital was Saturday evening and Samantha did great! Nova took the pictures with my Nikon… I particularly like Samantha’s Queen-esque wave as they came out for curtain call!

I’m so ready to just sit out and watch my garden grow, getting up occasionally to weed or water. Having lost track of what day it was for a bit, I was shocked to see that next week-end is Memorial Day. I think we’re going to hit our usual graves, possibly add a new old cemetery up in Lancaster…sounds like another trip to Southern Illinois.

Hug all your People and let them know you Love them.

Peace