Happy Birthday

Today is my brother's birthday. I wished him a happy birthday (his ashes on our mantel anyway) and for lunch we went by his favorite burrito place and picked up some burritos and brownies and took them to my mother's apartment to have lunch with her.

 

We'll figure out someplace to donate to in his name, the same amount we'd have spent on a birthday gift for him (usually an Amazon gift certificate so he could buy whatever he wanted). And we'll probably take his--now our--truck out for a spin in the afternoon. 

 

I miss my brother. 

 

 

 

I was watching a youtube video of an Australian woman who lives in Japan. Her sister died last year unexpectedly. The youtuber took a week off and went to Shikoku to do a pilgrimage to the 88 temples that are on the island. She talked a lot about grief and how it never leaves you, it just becomes part of you and part of your story. It does ease up some, the initial shock of the loss, but then it does become part of you, part of your story. I don't know how anyone survives it, but we do.

 

I'm grateful to have had the time I had with my brother. I am grateful to have the time I have with my mother and aunt. I am grateful to have Dave and Gray Kitty and a warm, safe home.

 

Gray Kitty has taken to napping on the end of the couch (leaving me space to nap on the rest of the couch). He's getting so old.

He's been quite affectionate recently, too. He snuggled up next to me to get belly pets a few days ago, something he hasn't done in years. We're keeping up on the shots that he gets for his arthritis and on his daily pain meds, so I think that helps him be more comfortable doing things like rolling over onto his side or back for pets.

Here's a little ball of Gray Kitty. He was sleeping curled up with his paws over his eyes. (He doesn't have a sleep mask.)

We've had typical spring weather recently: Crazy wind, rain, and snow--then blue skies and warm days or, like today, blue skies and cold days. It's supposed to freeze tonight, which will put an end to all the nascent little peaches and plums and apricots on our trees. Oh well.

 This was the slight dusting of snow we had a week ago. I took this from the back door, looking out over the horseless horse corral.