I’ve had my phone’s Lock Screen set to a photo of my cat ever since we had to have her put to sleep earlier this month. It didn’t occur to me until today that I was basically ripping the bandage off the wound every time I looked at my phone.
Connor and I took a long weekend at the end of July to go visit my mom in Medina County, Ohio. Of course, I had to get a photo of my son in front of the iconic gazebo in Medina Square.
His Dad and I had collaborated to make him a mixtape (yes, an actual cassette tape that he played in an actual Sony Walkman) that included his favorite techno/electronic and video game music, and he listened to it nonstop. Hence the headphones.
I just got the film developed (yes, actual 35mm film) and was struck by how much my son looks like my mother.
It’s been a long day.
Today was my grandfather’s funeral.
He died in his sleep at the age of 93, and outlived all of his siblings and two of his children.
I’m sure I’ll have more to say in the coming days, but for now, I just feel drained.
August 2021 will be remembered in our home as the month that Dad moved to a different shift at work.
Spoiler: It didn’t agree with him, and he’s now back on his regular evening/night shift.
It was fun and different, though, and if there had been less workplace shenanigans involved, it might have been a good fit… eventually.
Things that were definitely on the positive side of the equation (from my point of view):
There were an abundance of downsides, though, not the least of which being that Dad was basically jet-lagged for a few weeks in a row.
I think everyone involved will be glad for our routine to return to normal… including the next guy in line for the job.
Day two of our Grammy visit started with the Cleveland Zoo, moved on to the Great Lakes Science Center, and finished up at Foundry Social (a restaurant/bar with games).
The zoo photography staff referred to Mom as my sister multiple times, which we found highly amusing.