California has its claws in me. At least that is what it feels like tonight. For the 3rd time during this 40 days, 40 Writes process, and for the 5th time this year, I am back in California. This was another 6 hours in a KN95 mask in the airport where no one else was wearing one. My seatmate on the plane was, which was nice.
I am back in my recently departed sister’s house in Santa Maria. I am surrounded by religious artifacts and terra cotta cats. Over the next two weeks, we will be selling, donating, and distributing all of my sister's earthly artifacts. I hope she approves from wherever she is on the other side. I will be meeting with her grandkids, talking with her sister, negotiating prices with her neighbors, and visiting my brother over the next few days.
My partner is driving down to join me in on Monday to start the pricing and preparation for the estate sale. There will be real estate assessors, neighbors, and buyers stopping by at appointed times. The mailbox is overflowing with bills, messages, and solicitations. I hope that we will be able to deal with it all in about two weeks of California spring.
I stopped at Trader Joe’s to stock the house for the time we are here. No mask wearers other than me. I could write a whole different piece on the pandemic that would include some of the gifts that came from this shocking time, but that is not where I am tonight. Tonight I am sitting here surrounded by crucifixes and terra cotta cats and there is a lot to do and I’m all hopped up, pandemic or no. I’m expecting lively dreams as I sign off for the night.
— DanielSouthGate
I am back in my recently departed sister’s house in Santa Maria. I am surrounded by religious artifacts and terra cotta cats. Over the next two weeks, we will be selling, donating, and distributing all of my sister's earthly artifacts. I hope she approves from wherever she is on the other side. I will be meeting with her grandkids, talking with her sister, negotiating prices with her neighbors, and visiting my brother over the next few days.
My partner is driving down to join me in on Monday to start the pricing and preparation for the estate sale. There will be real estate assessors, neighbors, and buyers stopping by at appointed times. The mailbox is overflowing with bills, messages, and solicitations. I hope that we will be able to deal with it all in about two weeks of California spring.
I stopped at Trader Joe’s to stock the house for the time we are here. No mask wearers other than me. I could write a whole different piece on the pandemic that would include some of the gifts that came from this shocking time, but that is not where I am tonight. Tonight I am sitting here surrounded by crucifixes and terra cotta cats and there is a lot to do and I’m all hopped up, pandemic or no. I’m expecting lively dreams as I sign off for the night.
— DanielSouthGate
I hope "lively" translates to "pleasant" for you tonight! And I shudder to think of getting on a plane - - a petri dish - - I hope you're okay! Here in Alabama, believe me, virtually nobody wears a mask anywhere anymore. I do, too, still . . . in some places but not always. (At least I finally got that final booster which I hadn't made my way towards up until this past weekend - - no ill effects either - - hooray) (now I've made this post too much about me - - I think I need to get out of the house - - I'll make sure I have a mask with me!) G'night!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. With all this going on in the family, I've been in the petri dish plane 9 times this year! So far, the mask and the vaccines have kept me safe.
DeleteThis is the best combo ever: "religious artifacts and terra cotta cats." I am glad you reiterated it a few times, implying that the quality of the devotion to each category may have not been as different as it might seem on the surface. But who am I to say? You do make the tasks sound daunting, and they are. And yet, "terra cotta cats" are, to most people, trivial. AND YET, they were your sister's, so they hold feelings. Hope you get some sleep! (Macoff)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Macoff. Maybe I will tonight!
DeleteMay you have a smooth path in the rehoming of worldly goods
ReplyDeleteA two-pronged comment: It's great for us Dippers that we've had these stories of your sister's passing, and it's great that you've had this welcoming, listening community to bring along through this experience. Best wishes for these coming days and next level resolution of your sister's passing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marmar! You and all the Dippers have been a great blessing in this time.
DeletePeace be with you
ReplyDelete