The last two weeks have been very busy.
Two weeks ago, I sold my house and moved back to New England. My uncle passed away on the day I sold my house in Virginia. This past Saturday, my friend Dave and I spent the day unloading a PODs storage container, which had been dropped off on Friday. It contained the majority of the contents I’ve kept from my house in Virginia.
On Sunday, we left for Pittsburgh. My father and I went to PIttsburgh, Pennsylvania, to help out my aunt and cousin. We were there to help clean out the house and get it ready for sale. My aunt is going to go live with her son, in California later this year. It was strange, being there for my aunt, father and cousin. In some ways, I’m more experienced in dealing with the loss of both a spouse and a little brother than my aunt and father were. It’s strange to think that even as one of the younger members of my family, I’ve had such experiences with loss.
In many ways, what my dad and I found in Pittsburgh doesn’t surprise me. My uncle, one of my father’s younger brothers, had saved everything that my father had sent him for the last thirty years, in many cases, in the original packaging that it was shipped in. My uncle had come to the United States and had lived with my father during college and had, in many ways, followed in his older brother’s footsteps. My uncle was a lot like a younger, more refined version of my father, with better taste in clothes, and one of my favorite relatives. I’m just glad I could be there and help my aunt and cousin.
Today, my parents and I drove down to Virginia. The reason we came down to Virginia was a happy one. My sister-in-law, Michele, is getting married. In some ways, this event is one of the last tasks I promised Gee I would see to. She asked me to take care of her sister, and as of tomorrow that task will be in Matthew’s hands. I like Matthew and his family—they’re good people.
The rehearsal dinner was at a restaurant called Legends. The food was excellent. Matthew’s family are a very likeable bunch, even if some of them are Republicans. I’m looking forward to seeing Michele get married. I wish her and Matthew the joy and happiness I found with Gee.
I guess in many ways, life goes on. Just as my nephew entered my life the same year I lost Gee, Michele and my extended family has grown, even as my uncle passes away.