Rant #3,429: I Love You

As I had predicted, yesterday was about as busy a day as I have had in a long time.

I had to cover that conference I mentioned about to you, and I not only had to write it up and send it in, but I had three other work-oriented things to do, two of which I finished and at 7:30 p.m., I decided to hold off doing the last one until this morning.

There was also a Social Services matter that came out of the blue, and while I called transporting my son back and forth to work, I never connected with anyone there--so I will have to try again a little later today.

I also had physical therapy, and my body hurt from head to toe.

I am sort of between two anniversaries that I wish didn't exist--one of the passing of my mother on September 5 and the other, of the passing of my father on September 7.

Since I don't have time to do much of anything today--I have to pick up on the work I missed yesterday and do all my normal chores--I thought I would keep today's Rant very short and to the point.

My sister and I had the absolute greatest parents in the world.

We could not have chosen better parents if we were given the opportunity to do so.

They were both in their 20s when they had us, so I think the youthful verve that they had really rubbed off on us.

We were always busy, always doing something, and when you are always busy, you seem to stay young forever.

They both worked hard, and they enjoyed their later years, being grandparents of four boys and one girl--while still looking over my sister and I as our parents.

They loved the spouses of my sister and I, and they loved being the elder statesmen of our small family.

Then--and it seemed to happen almost out of nowhere--they got sick, or more to the point, unwell.

They had a variety if ailments as they went into their 80s, including dementia--

But they both still had their presence of mind, to a certain respect, until the days they died.

When they saw their children and grandchildren, they became young again.

Their final days were not good ones, but they left a legacy within our family--and to others who knew them and loved them--that will be passed down to the next generation, if there is one.

No great grandchildren are imminent, but if they do eventually come, you can bet they will know everything there is to know about Grandma and Zaidey.

As I go into this sad period, I cannot be unhappy.

How can I be that way with the parents I had?

They were great people, and my sister and I were their kids.

Other than wishing they were still with us, what do I have to be unhappy about?

We have memories that you cannot put a price on, and I hope my sister and I made them proud.

I love you, mom and dad.

Have a great weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.