November 8, 2006
Dear Everyone:
Things don’t always work out the way we think they will.
Last Wednesday, after the “Grapevine” trip, Halloween, and a full day working in “Pleasanton”, I was very tired. So I dashed off a quick weekly Letter and went to bed early. The next morning, knowing that I would be in the office later than my usually quitting time, I didn’t rush to get out the door as quickly as possible.
I have things set up these days so that I don’t even have to go downstairs in the morning until I’m ready to leave for work. I have a small refrigerator in the corner of the bedroom with my vitamins, water and juice. This saves a lot of steps and therefore time.
So I was dressed and ready to put on my shoes and head off to work (and the first two Parts of the CRM Exam) Thursday morning. That’s when I saw the phone machine flashing “5”. Five messages, all after 8:30 the night before.
I thought, “Please let them be stupid campaign recordings.” But no. The first message was from “Jeannie” and I knew from the tone of her voice that it was bad news. I called her before the second message finished playing.
That’s when I found out that Mother had passed away Wednesday night, on the way to the hospital. “Jeannie” had tried twice to call me, but I was asleep and didn’t hear the phone. She told me she had already spoken with all the other brothers and sisters.
The third message on the machine had come from a woman named “Evelyn” from Pastoral Services at Mary’s Woods, offering condolences and help. And the last two were “Jeannie” trying to reach me before I left for work in the morning.
I sent my supervisor an email from my BlackBerry, informing him that I wouldn’t be in to the office that morning. At first I thought I might go in that afternoon just to take the two tests. It would keep my mind off other things.
But after talking with “Frankie” later that morning, I decided to forget about the tests. I can take them next May. It wasn’t like I was going to pass the one on Management anyway.
So I just sat around the house all day, letting it all soak in. We knew this day would come, but you always hope it won’t. Not yet. In reality, we were lucky to have her as long as we did. And I’m glad that “Jeannie” and I were able to spend a weekend with her not too long ago.
About the time I would have started the test for Part 1, I sat down at my computer and drafted an obituary, which I emailed to everyone. In the meantime, “Frankie”, in her capacity of bossy eldest sister, was making arrangements.
“Frankie” will fly out to
The official mass and reception will take place on Friday, November 17th. We have 30 days to vacate Mother’s apartment, so there’s no great rush. We’ll have time to decide who wants to keep what and what to do with the rest. “Suzanne” already found a new owner for Gus, Mother’s orange cat.
I did go into the office on Friday and took the tests for Parts 3, 4 and 5. I have no idea if I passed any of them. Nor do I care. I know I won’t be the only one taking tests in May.
Before it was time for the tests, I decided to pull the weekly Letters (the hardcopy ones) out of my computer case and sign them. The first envelope was addressed to Mother. I realized there was no point in mailing that one off. I finished the rest and dropped that one back in the case.
Programming Note:
No Letter next week as “Jeannie” and I will be on our way to
Everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Love, as always,
Pete
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