I'm on a layover in Tokyo enroute to Singapore. Seems like a good time to catch up on the blog. After 10 days in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, I am heading "home" to Singapore. I find myself contemplating the meaning of home especially after this past week and mom's passing. One morning this week, Alex and I headed out for coffee and I remember feeling this rush of responsibility - we ARE the folks! (There is a joke in there somewhere around college where some friends were having a huge and loud party. The house happened to be owned by them. The police showed up at the front door to ask "where are your folks?" and we all laughed inappropriately screaming "they ARE the folks".). But somehow, this instant with Alex was not funny. How is it that my parents are both gone and now it's time to say goodbye to our childhood home? I'm 47 years old so my mom had long since redone most of the house. My bedroom had been reconfigured at least twice. So much of the house bares little resemblance to the past. But the walls are the same. And if those walls could talk and recall every moment, I would be overcome with emotion. I remember standing in the living room with Nigel at one point and remembering what it felt like to have Christmas in that room. Oh the many Christmases with the house literally bursting with people. I shall never forget.
The past week itself was positively exhausting. We had the memorial at the beginning which was definitely the high. It's always amazing at these kinds of events to see who attends. And to hear all of the things that people have to say about the departed. My parents were unique and remarkable. I'm sure I'm not the only person to think that about their parents. But they were!!!!
Home is now wherever my husband and my two beautiful children are. Even though our house/home is still in Cincinnati, I guess this means home is Singapore. I left 906 Washington this morning unsure if I will ever see it again. We spent the week as responsible executors cleaning up my mom's affairs and preparing to close up shop. I'm a bit numb, to say the least. Not to mention physically and emotionally exhausted from the process. And yet bonded with my sisters in a beautiful way. Now it is time to bond with Gary, Nicholas and Sadie and slowly transition back to the real world.
The past week itself was positively exhausting. We had the memorial at the beginning which was definitely the high. It's always amazing at these kinds of events to see who attends. And to hear all of the things that people have to say about the departed. My parents were unique and remarkable. I'm sure I'm not the only person to think that about their parents. But they were!!!!
Home is now wherever my husband and my two beautiful children are. Even though our house/home is still in Cincinnati, I guess this means home is Singapore. I left 906 Washington this morning unsure if I will ever see it again. We spent the week as responsible executors cleaning up my mom's affairs and preparing to close up shop. I'm a bit numb, to say the least. Not to mention physically and emotionally exhausted from the process. And yet bonded with my sisters in a beautiful way. Now it is time to bond with Gary, Nicholas and Sadie and slowly transition back to the real world.