There are so many things I want to write about, and so many projects buzzing around my brain, but not nearly enough brain cell to process them all.
Our family black lab had a tumor removed last Monday morning, my grandfather passed away Tuesday night, then I got a call from the vet the next day saying the tumor was a stage 1 mast cell tumor, and that she'd need to go back in to have more removed. Thursday night my father-in-law informed me he noticed all four of my tires need to be replaced.
That was last week. This past weekend I spent madly scanning pictures and digi-scrapping an album to display at the funeral, and doing housework and grocery shopping.
Sunday afternoon and evening I was feeling a bit desperate about the few layouts I had finished, but decided to just go with what I had, and started to upload them to WalMart.com to print them as one-hour photos. Huh - did you know the photo center at WalMart closes at 9pm on Sundays, and they don't take online one-hour photo orders after 8pm? I didn't.
So, 9 o'clock Sunday I started printing layouts, hoping it wouldn't take me too late - I had to be up at 6am to get ready for the four-hour road trip to the funeral.
Printing the layouts turned out fine - I about ran myself out of ink, but God had mercy on me in my time of distress. I was able to complete 11 layouts - title and ending page, and a layout for each decade from 1930s to 1970s. I was pleased with the results, and believe I will even finish the album in the near future - I still have 1980s-2008 to complete. But it's a labor of love, and not really a burden. Plus the time crunch is off, now that the service has past.
I also cranked out an essay of a memory I have of Grandpa, that I read at the service. I actually made it through the entire reading with only a few emotional pauses. My aunt about tackled me with a hug after the service, saying how much she liked it, which was really nice. She was awfully fond of her father. :) ::chuckle:: She also said I have a way with words, and I said that maybe I should be a writer. ::wink:: I'll share the essay in another post.
Several family members shared memories at the service, and it was really amazing to hear all the stories, most I hadn't heard before. Very interesting to hear my dad tell stories - from the various shenanigans and accidents of his childhood and young adulthood, I'd say I'm pretty lucky to be here today! Hearing all the stories makes me want to complete a "Family Stories" album, documenting just these kinds of stories that are told over and over again, but often missing some details. I'd like to get them all right, and preserved. What a treasure that would be.
The graveside ceremony was kind of neat - Grandpa was a WWII veteran, and the VFW was there in uniform. They said a few words and did the flag-folding ceremony, and gave the flag to my uncle (Grandpa's eldest child), thanking him for Grandpa's service to his country. That choked me up a bit.
We got home about 11pm last night, completing the 8-hour round trip and memorial service in one day. Then this morning I had to get the dog back to the vet by 8:30am for round two of tumor removal surgery. I felt so bad for her - her incision hadn't even healed from the first surgery. I'm just praying this takes care of it - I just dread having to make any decision about future treatment. How much is too much to pay to save a family member?? When is she a 'family member' and when is she 'just a dog'? I had a dream over the weekend that the cancer was too far spread and I had to hold her down while they put her to sleep. It's a wonder to me that I didn't wake up bawling. And I'm not even a dog person. Guess I'm just a Hally-person.
So. Can't wait to see what the rest of the week holds! Oy.
I hope round two of surgery is all your dog needs and that she recovers quickly!
Posted by: Rachel | 07/31/2008 at 12:35 AM