We had a good time in Nashville with my family. The weather was pretty nice most of the time. Mostly we hung out in the house (my parents rented this house for us to all stay in, which was kind of a funny old place) and talked, played games and ate. We went to a few attractions too.
My little brother Shawn lives in Nashville with his wife Carrie and their 3 kids. He's doing his residency at Vanderbelt. Sam and Carol and their son Charlie came from Boston. Sandra and Philip came with their baby Mya- they live in Dallas. Scott and Alisa live in Provo and they just had a baby that's only a few months old. Scott's going to BYU. And Stan is going to school at SLC out there too. He's doing much better than he was 2 years ago when he got arrested. I would hope he's drug free now. At least he's pulling A's in accounting, which is probably not possible on drugs. I'm glad to see his progress as I'm sure my parents are too.
Now when I tell you those last 2 pictures are Stan sliding down the skateboard on the hill there, you may wonder if he is on drugs still. This is what entertainment Scott, Philip and Stan found one afternoon. Skateboard+really steep hill+3 bored boys (ages 21-27)= mud stains, road rash and laughter. Actually I don't think any of them got road rash because once they got near the bottom, they veered off to the left to a pile of leaves and mud. And they skidded along in the muck for a good 5 yards or so before stopping. And Shawn made a video of it, to which they added music when they brought it inside for a 'music video' of sorts.
I wish I had some family nearby. Philip, who works for Hyatt, said there's 2 Hyatt's in Denver and that would be so awesome if they moved here. Sandra's expecting her second baby June 1st. I feel for her- they're on a 3rd floor apartment like we were while I was pregnant with Evan. We moved into our house one week after he was born. My girls adore Mya, who's 2.
I'd like to do Christmas in Colorado one year. That's the main reason I want to move to a bigger house- so we can have people come stay with us. We're still working on finishing Olivia's room downstairs and it's almost done, so that will add a fourth bedroom. I want our next house to have a 'mother-in-law' suite for company but also probably in the future for aging parents, either set.
I think of it because my grandma Graham has outlived my grandpa (one of the best men I've known). She had a stroke about 15 years ago. My parents are still living in Saudi so they can't take care of her. My aunt Lisa just got divorced and her life's a mess so she's not an option. Then there's my uncle Jeff, who's below human. As many times as I've thought it over, I never have comprehended. My grandparents were some of the most stellar, good and righteous people I know. My mom turned out great. Then my aunt and uncle...I don't know how to describe them. Jeff is the worse of the 2 evils, but he's the one that ended up 'taking care' of my grandmother. He's basically using her and her social security money, her life insurance from my grandpa. And he has a wife (well sort of, they only stay together to take from my grandma as long as they can) and 3 kids, who are 15-23 and will never find their way in life, also all living with my grandma. And my dad has to put money into the 'money pit' too and alot of it. Taxes that they won't file for my grandmother, bank fees, loans they won't pay off, you name it. My mom finally was able to take over the checking account this summer. Right after my grandpa died a few years ago, Jeff made himself legal gaurdian of my granmother and there wasn't much my parents could do living in Saudi. So now they check in when they can and try to 'stop the hemoraging' of the finances where possible but mostly, because of different circumstances, we can all only watch as they sink lower and lower, reaching a fuller condemnation with all of their vile actions. I haven't been back to visit her since my grandpa died because I can't stand to think of what she's enduring and how awful my uncle is. I'm afraid I might say horrible things to him, all the things I've thought and never said. At least she has daily care from a home nurse and there's no abuse to my grandma in a physical sense. But even though she can't talk and we don't know what state her mind is in, I can't help but think she must be suffering so badly inside, seeing what's become of 2 of her children. I hope for her sake that she passes soon. She will be so much happier.
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