#Ulog 6: When you have to make a trip for a sad reason

A long trip ahead

Tomorrow I'm going to hop on a plane to fly halfway around the world to be with family. I did that last Christmas as well and didn't think I'd be doing it again so soon.

Last time was all about having fun, a stark contrast to what it will be this time. I'm going to be with family as well, just like last time, but one person will be missing. My mother - Mami - passed away on Sunday night, peacefully in her sleep. Her funeral will be on Friday. It will be very small, only the closest family, just the way she wished it to be.

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(My mother as a child. Picture taken by my late grandfather around 1939)

At this point I won't write much about what this means to me, who she was as a person, or what our relationship was like. I'm still processing the news and don't feel much like writing at the moment. But I do feel that sharing this information here on #steemit in a #ulog is good for me because this is the most caring and supportive place one can find (on the internet at least).

Sad but also glad

I'm going to stay with my father - Papi - for a few weeks in the hope that I can make the time of adjustment and the transition to life as a single, widowed person a little bit easier for him. He and my mother have been together for 60 years and have rarely spent a night apart. It will be hard. And that will be sad to watch.

But I do have a lot to be glad for. I'm glad that I have to brothers to share the task of looking after Papi; glad that Mami didn't have to go to a nursing home or stay in the hospital too long; glad she was not in pain at the end; glad that Papi is still healthy physically and mentally; glad our family has become closer in the last few years.

I'm glad that my work arrangements allow me to take as much time off as I need; glad to have lovely, supportive friends in both parts of the world, and online; most glad to have the best husband and daughters I could wish for; and glad for lots of little things like the fact that it's summer in Switzerland right now.

That's it for now

I'm leaving it at that for the moment. I hope I can tune in every now and then when I'm there but I know Papi's internet is quite terrible. And maybe I just want to sit with him and talk all the time, and see my brothers, their wives and my niece and nephew. And a few good friends too, particularly my very special old friend I talked about in an earlier post.

Thank you for reading. I am drawing a lot of strength from some amazing people here who had/have similar experiences or different kinds of struggles. You know who you are, my besties here on steemit. I love you!

Peace to all, especially those who are going through difficult times.