My sister called a few days before my trip to tell me that her mother-in-law had stopped eating. She died at her home the morning I arrived.
At the funeral my brother-in-law spoke about his mother’s passion for her grandchildren. She bragged about them to no one but their parents, because telling people outside the family would only make them feel bad. Her grandson spoke about her giving him a check for $100.25. When he inquired about the odd sum she replied that the hundred dollars was because she loved him. The $0.25 was so that he would “call her sometime.”
I blogged here about the compassion and assistance of my sister’s in-laws during another international trip. My sister’s mother-in-law had a warm place in her heart for my family, and despite the “balagan” of arriving in the midst of everything I was glad to be at the funeral. My children stayed with my father and his helper.
About thirty people returned to lunch at my sister’s, but I didn’t have much time before leaving for the airport. Amazingly, my sister found a ride for the four of us with a couple on their way back to Manhattan. They were happy to fill their van, now that their children are mostly grown. I sympathized; our own van is rarely full these days.
To be continued . . .
I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s mother-in-law. I really enjoyed my cousin’s mother-in-law, and I used to love talking to her when I visited my cousins. Also a warm, compassionate woman.
The story with the check is poignant.
I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s mother-in-law. I really enjoyed my cousin’s mother-in-law, and I used to love talking to her when I visited my cousins. Also a warm, compassionate woman.
The story with the check is poignant.