I didn’t do much of anything for my birthday. I woke up with a headache, but I think that had more to do with the weather and a lot less to do with sleep, since I went to bed fairly early Friday night — by 1:30am — and slept until 10:30am. I spent most of the day on the sofa, half-ass watching DVR’ed judge shows and surfing the internet pretty aimlessly.
Alyssa is with Dan’s sisters, aunt and uncle for the weekend. His aunt emailed me on Friday morning to ask if she could take Alyssa to a music recital and pool party on Saturday afternoon, and since Dan’s sister was already at our house watching the kids, they decided to just send Alyssa home with her. And since they were at the pool party so late, Dan’s sisters texted me to say they would keep Alyssa until Sunday. I miss her, but I could use the quiet time, and I know she’s having a blast.
Ryan was outside with Dan for most of the afternoon, while he dug up the ground in front of our house and planted my birthday gift — a Kwanzan cherry tree. For those wondering about my Twitter update, yes, that’s the tree that made me cry. Why? After looking at some Flickr photos of its blossoms, I realized that it’s the exact tree that canopies the majority of the backyard at my grandparents’ house in Philadelphia. I have such fond memories of that tree, especially in the late spring when the petals would completely carpet the ground.
(And yes, I am quite happy with receiving a tree as a birthday gift! I’ve been wanting to do something with the front of our house, which is 100% bare except for grass, and I love cherry blossoms.)
My mom stopped by in the afternoon to pick up her meds that she forgot to take with her when she went home on Friday night (she stayed with us on Thursday night), and she wished me a happy birthday. I received plenty of comments and Twitters and such from you guys here online — thank you. 
Other than that, today was just a blah, crappy, sort of sad and quite mopey day. No cake or cards, no call from my dad (in fact, I’ve called him at least six times now, have left two voice mails and have sent two text messages, but I’ve yet to hear back from him). But it’s okay. Given the circumstances, it’s more than understandable that nobody would be doing much of anything today, besides me turning 25 at exactly 4:55pm.
Friday was hard. I made Thursday’s blog entry from the hospice center, which is where I rushed to as soon as my mom called me to tell me my grandfather had just died. I waited around long enough here at the house until Jason showed up, then drove over to Dan’s work to pick him up, and then we ran up to the hospice center. My grandfather was still in the room, and my mom was there with him. I said goodbye to my grandfather, kissed his cheek, and then Dan and I coaxed my mom out of the room for a bit, until someone from the funeral home showed up. He talked to us for a few minutes, and then he and a nurse transferred my grandfather from the bed to the gurney, and then they left.
We got everything together, food, clothing, toiletries, Blueboy, laptops, etc., and then left not long after that. I dropped Dan back at work for his car, though we wound up switching cars because we had perishable foods in my car, and my mom and I needed to stop at the grocery store to pick up something for dinner.
Dinner was cheese steaks, french fries and another attempt at risotto rice by Dan (all of which was quite yummy), and watermelon and glazed donuts for dessert. Not long after dinner Marlin, our pastor, showed up, and he stayed and talked with us for a bit.
Friday morning was the arrangements for the funeral, and the viewing. My brothers were brought to the funeral home, and Marlin came again, so we all had a chance to say our formal and semi-final goodbyes to my grandfather. It was our last time seeing him, because we made arrangements for him to be cremated. And because he is was in the Air Force and was a Korean war veteran, he’s eligible to have a military service at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. We set the funeral date for June 25th (the day before we leave for the beach), because Marlin is away next week, and we’d like him to be at the funeral service as well.
After we left the funeral home (in separate cars, as Dan had his birthday shopping to do for me), my mom and I went and had lunch at Applebee’s. We also stopped at Target because I wanted to pick up a beach blanket before they sold out, and I grabbed a few beach towels, too. Then we came back to my house, and didn’t do much of anything for the rest of the day.
And that basically concludes my last 48 hours. June hasn’t started out so well, so here’s to hoping that it will end well. My mom is doing okay, though understandably she is quite grief-stricken, as am I. My youngest brother didn’t show much emotion while at the funeral home and viewing, but my thirteen year old brother fell apart. It was awful to witness.
However, I am also relieved that this is over, and that we can move on and close the book to this horrible, miserable chapter of our lives, even though we’ll never stop missing my grandfather, loving him and thinking about him.
Anyway, I’m going to wrap this up, because it’s getting pretty late, and I have laundry to fold (it’s all over our bed) before I can go to bed!
Ive noticed on your twitter account and also in this blog that you are doing alot of whining about no one doing anything for your birthday. Seriously, you sound like your 12 years old. I’m shocked and rather sickened by the fact that someone in their 20′s is whining about people not celebrating your birthday. I’m sorry but if I was you, I would be ashamed. Seriously, don’t you think it’s time to grow up? Oh and guess what, the world doesn’t revolve around you dear. Didn’t you make a post awhile back about how your mother was acting immature because you didn’t buy her a certain gift? You can really tell the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
@Ashley: A lot of whining? Really?
From Twitter:
I also made an update about craving birthday cake, which wasn’t a whine, as you seem to think, but just a general CRAVING for the taste of BIRTHDAY CAKE. Or any cake, really. Something with rich, creamy frosting.
From my blog:
I think you’re reaching… by at least a few miles. Go ahead and crawl back into the woodwork now.
Hm, who let the trolls out?
It sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough start to the month. I’m hoping things will get better for you from now on. It sounds like that trip to the beach will be really good for you all to get away and relax for awhile.
Still sending my thoughts to you and your family. I’m so sorry to hear about your grandpa but I’m glad he was able to go peacefully.
<3
you’ve not been complaining on twitter, and I think it’s horrible that someone would even post a comment like that considering what you are going through!
Anyway… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The cherry tree sounds like a really sweet and thoughtful gift. Now every time you look at it you’ll have reason to smile :).
I’m so sorry about your grandfather. I don’t know what I would do if I were in your situation, but I can tell that you are handling it very well! I hope the wound of his passing begins to heal soon; just try to remember all the great things he did in his life, and know that he’s in a better place now.
Hugs, Jess
It is good to see that you are still going strong. Remember it is okay to break down every once in a while. This birthday may be the saddest, remember that there are a lot of birthdays to come and it will be a little less painful and more of remembrance.
I’m sorry that you had a pretty “blah” birthday. It’s understandable that you didn’t really want to do anything after what you’ve been through in the past few weeks. That tree is gorgeous, though. What a fantastic present! I can’t wait to see some pictures of it. I know there will be pictures.
Sorry about your “blah birthday. And your grandfather. I hope the coming weeks are better for you and while you’re at the beach!
@Ashley: Have you NOT read her blog? You are so insensitive, You need to do some growing up dear.