This time of year sucks as previously established. It has not been made any easier this year with the death of a dear friend’s mother. It has triply not been made easier with my “other mother” (one of my my spiritual mentors) needing a trip to the hospital reminding me that while she is still sharp as a tack and raising hell, she’s not magically getting any younger. Neither is my uncle who is not doing the best. Still, we tried to make the best of it this weekend by going to my grandparents’ cemetery to leave palms and lilies and to go to Umberto’s with my uncle.
I programmed the anniversary of everyone’s deaths in my phone to come up on my calendar yearly so I can make sure that masses would be said for our beloved dead and I’m working on a master list of where everyone’s buried so that no one will be forgotten as best as I can. Still, my mother was being difficult because it’s tax season (she’s an accountant) and she’s freaking about her brother and has to make a little dig that my nephew won’t be taught prayers. My sister and I are doing our best at the cemetery to keep him from climbing on headstones (he’s two) and I was irritated enough to want to stick it back to my mom as I’m stressed too. So I managed to corral my nephew back to my grandparents’ headstone. I thought for a moment about what I could get a two year old to do to honor our beloved dead (I’m a nanny, damnit) so finally I had the brainstorm to kiss my hand and then put my hand to the headstone, which he did as well without much prompting. After a smug look to my mom I said, “C’mon, kid, we’re gonna go get pizza.”
Fuck March, man.
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Her frequently updated catalogue of published work is available on Author Central.
She writes about Glamour Magic here at Charmed, I'm Sure. Her podcast appearances are available here.
Her craft shop, The Mermaid & The Crow specializes in old-world style workshop from 100% local, sustainable sources featuring tempting small batch ritual oils and hand-spun hand-dyed yarn in luxe fibers and more!
In a previous life, Deborah founded the first Neo-Victorian/Steampunk convention, SalonCon which received rave reviews from con-goers and interviews from the New York Times and MTV.
She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jow and their cat, Max II. She has a terrible reality television habit she can't shake and likes St. Germain liquor, record players and typewriters.
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3 Responses
Andrew B. Watt
Next time, have the pizza first, and get a slice to go… then you can leave it at the grave, and the kid will absorb a wide range of important lessons…
Andrew B. Watt recently posted..Y2D19-20
Jow
We can teach the little dude prayers. A lot of good tricks, I will show them to you..
But seriously, he cant understand/appreciate them yet, or what is going on yet. When he can grok it, we will.
Jow recently posted..The Things You Cannot Stop
jonquil
When Grandchild #1s’ Oma took her to visit family graves the first time (she was around 3 or so) she grabbed windex & a rag from the car & started cleaning the headstones (no prompting, either).