~ a rare visit from my Uncle Neil ~
 
9:41 a.m.

This morning I could not bring myself to handwrite in my paper journal, as I have been doing first thing most mornings. Instead, after making my way groggily up the stairs to kiss my little darlings goodbye for the day, I sat in Aunt Jean’s chair with my favourite mug full of black coffee and started reading a library book brought home yesterday for Karen ... The Scarlet Pimpernel. When Cheryl did Karen’s reading in April, she said Karen had lived during the times the novel was set in, the late 1700s, and might enjoy the book. Karen is not a reader, but maybe she’ll give this one a go.

I have been thinking about Mom a lot this week. She is not here to see the beautiful green (her favourite colour) of the spring leaves. I know she is well where she is, but still ... almost a year has passed already. There is something sad about that, though I can’t say exactly what.

I sometimes think, on my blissful walks in the solitude of nature, that Mom cannot experience this sort of thing now. Then I remember that she never really did, or hadn’t for many years, if ever. It was not her thing, to walk or be outdoors. She preferred to be inside.

***

An email to my sister this morning:

Dear Karen,

I ordered The Scarlet Pimpernel from the library for you and it came in yesterday. You have it till June 8 and I imagine that time can be extended if it takes you longer to read it.

An "in memoriam" for Mom will go into the Wadena News on Wed the 24th. I plan to go to Wynyard today to look at that headstone so Dad can get it ordered.

Will go look at new stoves while we're there; the oven on this one seems to be done for. Scott keeps trying to tell me we don't need to spend the extra 100 bucks on a self-cleaning one. "Just don't let anything bubble over ... use larger containers," he says. Funny boy. Ha! I guarantee that no stove without a self-cleaning oven is getting through this kitchen door.

Maybe we'll see you this weekend. Are you doing anything special on Mothers Day? The boys keep asking me what I'd like to do, and darned if I can come up with any ideas. Will make sure Grandma is included, whatever it is, unless someone else makes plans with her.

Love,
Kathy