Speaking of death

This has been a strange month, what with it being the first month of the new decade and all. I'm still trying to put an end to organizing, although organizing kind of makes me feel, well, organized. Like, I can find things again. I resist a little, though, because a lot of people who do this kind of organizing do it just before they die. I don't plan to do that soon.

Lori's worried about Kev again. He wants to move out (even though he's due to deploy this summer). He's been selling his plasma, and she worries, of course, that he's selling other things. I just pray that Kevin can hang on to some future vision before he ruins his life.

So, speaking of death, there have been two this month. Debbie B's sister, Becky, passed after suffering through ALS. That kind of dying is both beautiful and difficult. The beauty comes from the fact that everyone - including Becky - can prepare. They can celebrate birthdays, share memories and take joy in the simple things, like a sunrise. The hard part, of course, is the suffering for both her and the family that follows her to the end of her life. Debbie cried, but she also looked as though a great burden had been lifted. Becky is at peace now.

Less than a week later, I got a call saying that Di had died. Just like that. Very differently than Becky. She thought she just had a pulled muscle or nerve in her back. For months, she had been doing physical therapy. Then suddenly, she couldn't get out of bed. Her family took her to a nursing home and overnight, she died. Turns out, she had undiagnosed lung cancer that had metasticized to her brain. She'd also had several small strokes.

While it was a shock - some people, you think, will live forever - I also thought it was exactly how she would want to go. You know Di. And for sure, she couldn't tolerate anyone lingering.

Everyone in the Howze house is fine. It's a little empty, but it seems worse because it's been so cold. And the air has been had again. Ugh. We're looking foward to San Francisco. Just tell me what we should bring for you.