Absence

December's Reads

The Bookseller of Kabul
by Asne Seierstad. I've started reading this several times, but now I finally got the audiobook. We'll see if that helps me finish.
Sleep Tight, Little Bear (with DVD)
by Martin Waddell. Oh my sweet goodness. If you can get the book with the DVD, then you'll be treated to Waddell reading the story in his beautiful Irish accent. THIS is the book (and DVD) to get for wee children this season.

Big Reads

Eclipse
by Stephenie Meyer. Certainly my favorite of the series so far. That's not to say I'm absolutely loving the series, only that I'm continuing to read them.
New Moon
by Stephenie Meyer. Working my way through the books. I liked this one better than the first one, although a trend is developing that the plot doesn't work for me once the crisis is over.
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer. You know what? It wasn't half bad. I'm going to finish the series and then write a full review.
Brooklyn: A Novel
by Colm Toibin. Even though it was slow, I was totally captured by the plot. The story is about an Irish girl's new life in America. I found it engaging, but then the ending was flat for me. (Odd since that's what seems to redeem it for most people.) (****)
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion. (audiobook version) After my summer of grief (which seems to be following me into my autumn), this was the book I needed to read. Cathartic. If you have ever experienced the loss of a loved one, you need to read this book. Absolutely. (*****)
Reading in the Dark: A Novel
by Seamus Deane. Read it again with my Irish lit class. Haunting, mythic, and reads like a memoir. Happy to say my students enjoyed it as much as I did. (*****)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith. A wonderful coming-of-age story. I read it on the airplane and cried. Beautiful blends the identities of being Irish, being American, and growing up poor. (*****)
Where the Heart Is
by Billie Letts. I was very skeptical about this book, and it ended up being such a delight. Really loved it. (****)

Early Sunday morning, Jason's grandpa was taken to the hospital because he had trouble breathing. He has not been feeling well for a little while now, and so we initially thought pneumonia might be the culprit.

Jason's parents drove down to Eugene to visit Grandpa, but we stayed here because we had a birthday party to attend. Also, I admit we weren't too concerned because we figured he'd be out of the hospital in a few days, as has been the case before.

Monday morning, I talked with Jason's mom. They had found a tumor in Grandpa's lung. Malignant.

Monday afternoon, I talked with Sharon again. Cancer throughout Grandpa's body. Two weeks to live.

Two weeks.

The girls and I made plans to drive down to Eugene on Saturday. Jason left last night for an 8-day field trip of the East Coast. He hated to leave in the midst of all of this, but planned to visit his grandpa as soon as he got back.

The hospital called this morning: the family needed to be down at the hospital. Forty-eight hours left, they said. Jason's dad--who owns and runs a coffee shop--had someone coming to work for him at 12:30, at which point we would all drive down to Eugene.

Less than two hours later--as I was packing snacks for the drive--Jason called to tell me that his grandpa had just passed away. Jason's dad was devastated at not being there for his father.

I debated about taking the girls down to Eugene anyway, wondering if they might be some comfort to Jason's grandma. Sharon appreciated the gesture, but said it would be best if we stayed here. That Jason's uncle--who lived with his parents as their caretaker--was wrought with grief. He can't imagine his life without his dad.

The funeral might be this weekend. Jason will still be gone. Jason's brother, who lives in Rhode Island, will also be unable to attend.

Please pray for Jason's family, particularly his dad, uncles and grandma. The loss was too sudden, the heavy grief of absence weighing on their hearts.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10:23 PM in Loss | Permalink

Comments

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Thinking of you & Jason's whole family. I know how rough it is, thinking you'll have more time, not expecting things to progress so awfully quickly.

Posted by: Jess | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 06:51 AM

I am so sorry for Jason, for you, and for your family. The sudden loss of a beloved grandparent is bewildering. :(

Posted by: gretchen from lifenut | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 08:06 AM

Steph, I am so sorry for your family. I know that Jason must be agonizing over being away. I am praying for all of you.

Posted by: Cathy Emmert | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 02:12 PM

So sorry.

Posted by: heather | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 08:00 PM

Oh Stephanie, I am so sorry. I know that must be such a shock. Prayers and hugs to your family.

Posted by: Nancy | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 08:07 PM

I'm very sorry! What a horrible shock. I love the photo; it is so touching.

Posted by: Margaret | Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 08:29 PM

Oh Stephanie, I'm so sorry. Praying for you and Jason and his family.

Posted by: Goslyn | Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 07:43 AM

Deepest sympathies Stephanie, my prayers are with you and all your family members...

Posted by: Jeri | Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 06:39 AM

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Creature Bug

After 15 years away, I've returned to my childhood home on the Family Farm in southwest Washington (we farm families, not food). As a longtime Oregonian, I'm trying to remember to pay sales tax and how to pump my own gas. Fortunately, living next door to a dozen family members makes the transition easier.
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