Trip Report (May 29th-June 4th 09)

[willowisp]

Borrowing formatting from druidsfire


The flights to and from Syracuse weren't bad. Puddlejumpers all the way, but only one hop instead of the two-hops which are usually required for ABQ-SYR. The biggest problem was a broken lavatory light on the way home, which required use of a flashlight. If that's the biggest problem on a total of four flights, color me happy.

I got to see my sister, some cousins, and two dear friends from school while in the upstate area. Friends Kim and Michele got teddy bears and my sister Pamela got a (stuffed) frog out of the deal. It was good to catch up, hear about other friends, and be able to volunteer some information. I'm hoping to fly in a little early in August before moving into my dorm so I can show off Andy, too.

Finally, I got to see some of my older relatives and hear stories about my grandmother (who knew she was the wild one back then?) and Father Wally. I also got to meet a bunch of my sister's co-workers, though none told me fun stories about her exploits. Finally, upon seeing the motivational posters in her workplace, I introduced Pamela to demotivators.


On the 30th we went to Pennsylvania for a small family-reunion, and in doing so, visited my 92 year-old great (grand?) uncle, Father Wally. He was unconscious the whole time, and later on that evening he died. He led a very full life and was not himself near the end, but a funeral had definitely not been in the plans for the trip. One of the friends I'd hoped to see in NY was too sick for us to visit her. I hope we can see Estelle in August. I also developed something which is verging on a cold, though about 16 hours solid of sleep upon arriving home seems to have cleared up all but the sniffles. Knock on wood.


My parents have been divorced since I was in college, and it's been a very bitter divorce with unnecessary acrimony on both sides. Dad had refused to talk to Pamela and me for some fifteen years. She and I tried to visit him while we were in Rome. He confirmed that he no longer wishes to speak with us, and we are now barred (by the woman he left our mom for) from calling or visiting him. Shortly after the woman he left our mom for gave that injunction to us, she delivered an ultimatum to him: her or us.

Comments

wow

[(Anonymous)]

What a sad ending to your trip. I'm so sorry your father has severed ties. I'm sad that you lost your great uncle too.

Hopefully, happier times will return when YOU return in August.

~Dianne

[michelle-connor.livejournal.com]

I am glad you got to see friends, and am sorry you had such a sad note for the trip. I hope being with friends offered some comfort to you.

[ljedi.livejournal.com]

That is a whole lot of suck re your dad. It's terrible that a bitter divorce (my parents had one, too) is being taken out on the kids :(

Just remember that you are surrounded by people who love you!

It sounds like seeing your friends and other family was wonderful, so hang onto those!

[(Anonymous)]

I am so sorry all the way around!!!! I hate going to visit my family downstate and nothing goes well! The funeral must have been hard, but at least you where here for it.

I feel bad your dad made that choice, someday he will regret that!!!

I hope to see you in August..I'll see you even if I have another fever. (I really didn't want to share it with anyone, but sometimes I fell I miss out on too much because I am sick at the worst times).

I am glad you had a nice visit with Kim and Michele!!

[ladymeag.livejournal.com]

It's unfortunate that your parents had a bitter divorce that affected you guys from all sides. It's also incredibly unfortunate that your father not only got involved with a woman that made a "your kids or me" ultimatum but that he stood for that being issued. My family kinda sucks in similar regards, so I understand the feeling of being stuck in the middle of that kind of thing.

Perhaps your great-grand-uncle was holding on for a few visitors to come see him before he felt okay to say goodbye. I know this is a bit woo-woo, but I've often wondered about that kind of thing. I'm sorry that you had to add a funeral to your itinerary, but I'm glad that you got to see him once more.

I'm glad the rest of your trip went decently well. I hope you feel better soon!

[willowisp.livejournal.com]

The people who staff the nursing home definitely believe the part about saying goodbye. They even held back Pamela and Aunt Helen (his sister, who visited him daily) and told them that he might need someone to tell him it was ok to go. The nursing home staff person said some people hang on for years waiting to hear that it's ok.

We all agree that Aunt Helen would be very uncomfortable saying anything of the sort to him, but apparently he did consider that visit permission to go. He was a good guy (in a day when children were thought of as less-than-people he was well known for taking kids out camping or to baseball games and such), and he was in late stage diabetes and some other stuff. As much as I'll miss him, I'm glad he's no longer in pain.

[studentbane.livejournal.com]

A lot of what I would say has already been said, so I'll just leave it with: [moral support] and [good vibes] to you.

[clubjuggler.livejournal.com]

I'm really late reading this, but basically, what studentbane said!