Laughter and tears

Here's the very best part of being here right now: my beautiful grand niece Lexie. She is so fascinated with the red light that comes on when the camera focuses that every picture I got of her has this expression. Otherwise, she is smiling, laughing, or giving all of us plenty of reason to be thankful. I arrived here yesterday afternoon after taking this picture as I left Miami after a five-hour layover for a one-hour flight.

The weather here is beautiful, right now the mid-seventies on its way to 80 degrees. Everywhere in this house, Pete's presence is felt. And then I remember that he's not coming back and feel a quick wave of grief. Then I see the little doggie carriers that Moose used for his home and I remember his little head peeking out from his "porch" and feel another wave of grief for my sister's losses. Then the tears fall again. I am so glad to be here, but it's not exactly a wonderful and joyous time.

Yes, Norma Jean is on her computer. I can also bet that her son Peter is somewhere in the house with a laptop on his lap, and Allison, too. We are a very connected family in this way. I haven't yet gotten a good picture of Peter but as soon as I do, I'll introduce you to him as well. Right now we have four adults and one infant laughing and smiling, mostly at Lexie, and then laughing when going through some of Pete's things because of his penchant for never throwing anything away. He even still had his old hairbrush from before they were married. ("Why would I get a new one? It still works just fine!")

BTW, I got a call yesterday from my doctor's office, and they have decided to biopsy that thyroid lump. I'll have it done a few days after I return from this trip. It made me a little nervous about what they might have seen they aren't sharing with me, but that is just me "awful-izing" as my sister calls it, jumping ahead to the worst possible outcome. But the really good thing is that whatever it is, I'll know for sure after next month. If it's not one thing in life, it's another, it seems.

But I am so glad to be here, laughing and crying with gusto. Please forgive any typos or errors I might have missed, because I'm trying to finish this before all of us girls head out the door.
:-}