Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 October 2004 17:47:29
Dilemma: wedding is in the North on Saturday, funeral is in the Midlands on the following Friday.
I don't feel well enough really to do the trip twice, but I don't want to stay away from the Island for the whole of half term week.
My Dad would probably be as well not going to the funeral as it is a burial. AS my sister said, the important thing is how you felt about people when they were alive, not once they're dead. And Edith knew how much my Dad loved her.
It makes sense not to go to the funeral because there will not be room for us to stay at my sister's house, too, and it's not the best time for seeing her.
BUT
My nephew and his fiancee are coming over from the Cayman Islands for the funeral, and a day either side of it, and another nephew and his partner and my great niece are coming down from the tip of Scotland for the funeral and a day either side of it. I haven't seen either of them for years - have never met my great niece -and the likelihood is that I won't see them again for years either. And these men are like brothers to me. Also they haven't seen my Dad for years either and, having just lost one grandparent, it seems wrong for them to miss a chance to spend some time with their last remaining one.
My other sister wants to go in order to see them too. Dad wants to see them too, but not to be surrounded by everyone talking at once.
I don't know what to do. My ear hurts - my sister pointed out that I didn't argue very forceably when she suggested that I'm not really fit to drive all the way up to Stockton and my head tells me she's right, my heart so wants to be there.
Why does the place I love living have to be so far away from the people I love?