Dear John,
Our grandmothers were both big into the yarn/needle arts. Yours crocheted and knitted and quilted. Mine mostly crocheted, but also did some knitting and sewing. She supplemented her income by creating bridal handkerchiefs that would have the bride and groom's names and wedding date crocheted into a border. I tried my hand at one for your sister. It turned out OK - I don't know if she bothered keeping it. Anyway, I have a bunch of snowflakes that my grandma crocheted, and a couple from your grandma. The one that was hanging on the back door finally disintegrated and I had to throw it away, but there's still one for the tree. Someone also made some angels - I'm not sure who, as my grandma died in 1995. Anyway, we ended up with 3 of the crocheted angels...perfect for our little family.
I was taking down the tree yesterday, though, and found that S had only used 2 of the angels. It made me very sad, but also made me kind of laugh at her pragmatism. I mean, I put the tree together, and she decorated it, so everything was her choice. You were well represented with a bunch of ornaments that you made when you were little, and things that were gifted to you over the years. But that lack of an angel struck me particularly hard.
I'm still pretty agnostic in general, but I hope that you're providing guardian angel services for us. I like to think of you looking out for us, even if you can't be here to do it personally. I have been hearing Shaggy's Angel on the radio quite a bit lately. I attribute it to you, but I assume some new popular show is using it.
It seems that I have decided to travel on the anniversary of your death now. Last year, we went on a cruise. This year, I hadn't really thought about it yet, but then my use-or-lose vacation time got pushed into this year. So now we're going to Hawaii for a week. Just me and S this time - it will be our first real vacation alone, with just the two of us. Our previous trips have been with friends or to visit family. Or you were there. I hope it will be fantastic.
Aside from that, it's been really cold this weekend. I haven't walked the dogs in a couple days, because it's just too cold. I might make it out this afternoon for a little bit, but I do not tolerate cold very well any more. I let S take the new car to work yesterday, so she could enjoy the heated seats and steering wheel. She said the tires were all underinflated - I will have to add more air, I guess, since it's not getting much warmer this week. She also said the remote start feature didn't work. I am not sure if it is different than the old car - I don't really use that feature. Who knows - you were right though. More features means more annoyances if something breaks. Maybe my next car will be that 1966 Jaguar XKE convertible I always wanted. I can surely learn to do car maintenance and repair, right? I should have told you to find me one of those - you would have bought it (and then never let me drive it) for a project. Sigh...
Love,
A
