Some things are more difficult to write when you know your famliy will be reading. Over on the travel blog, I just wrote that at our apartment, “things are generally not in the state where you’d be comfortable having your grandmother visit. (Actually, given that my grandmother’s been gone a decade now, if she wants to come pay a visit she can come no matter what the house looks like.)
That last sentence took a lot of careful wording, considering that people will be reading it who loved my grandmother (still do, in fact) and also people who are still grieving for the two of Rudder’s who died in 2007. I think the wording above is something they’ll all be comfortable reading. Problem is, I’m not.
Too literal a mind is my problem, along with too many folksongs. My first thought was that I’m not quite sure I want her in my house unless ten years is long enough for decomposition to finish. (Through a coffin, possibly not.) My second thought was about clay-cold breath and unquiet spirits. I miss my grandparents, but not enough to prevent me living my life as happily as they’d want me to, and not enough to want to keep them from moving on. Still, any time she wants to pull a Grandma Tzeitl on me, she’s more than welcome.
When I was small, I thought Laser Wolf was a *way* cooler name than, like, anything in the world. The character was extremely disappointing with a name like that. He didn’t make p’chew-p’chew noises while shooting the Cossacks or anything. (I know it’s not spelled that way.) But anyway, all that is by way of saying, at least you’re not attempting to marry Laser Wolf, so if Grandma Tzeitl does show up, she won’t be annoyed.
I’m sure your own Grandma Tzeitl was delighted with Rudder. Thanks for the happy ear worm. I really needed some ‘Fiddler’ but didn’t know it until you said it. ~LA
Funny you should have chosen that subject today. Because everything is early this year, I nearly missed my mother’s yahrzeit — 20 years. I guess it wouldn’t matter if she came visiting; she never liked my house when she came before. I’ll send her to my son; his housekeeping is impeccable.