7-Quick Takes

Join the other Quicktakers at This Ain’t the Lyceum

1. We got more information about my sister-in-law’s passing this week. It appears that as she got weaker, she started refusing more and more medical intervention including just basic oxygen support. Eventually her oxygen saturation fell and her heart just stopped.

This reminded me of my mother’s death from cancer.  As Mom got sicker and sicker she basically quit fighting too, despite my best efforts to encourage her to eat and to get out of bed and move.

I understands that there are certain situations you simply can’t understands until you in them, so I wonder if the dying somehow innately know when they have crossed the line between living and dying, and if so, is just being quiet and peaceful, learning to accept and prepare for the inevitable the best thing to do? And if it is, do we do a disservice to the dead when we keep encouraging them to try to get better?

When mom was dying, an elderly lady came into her room and told her to go into the light and meet Jesus.  After she left, I whispered to my mom, “Stay away from the light!! I’m not ready to lose you yet!”  That was when I still had a little hope. And now I wonder if that was the wrong thing to do. Maybe the best thing to do for the dying is to just be there with them, and let them die.

2. My sister-in-law is going to be cremated,and buried with her parents this spring.  I mentioned to Mr. Pete that a blogger friend that died a few years ago, was buried with her parents, and her name engraved on their stone.  Mr. Pete and his siblings liked the idea and I think that is what might happen for my sister-in-law – either that or a separate marker somewhere on the grave site.

3.  I am filling out my first FAFSA form and I gotta say, it’s a little intrusive!  Saw this on Twitter and it cracked me up!

FAFSA be like “I see your parents usually get two toppings on their pizza…you must not need any aid”

— College Student (@ColIegeStudent) July 13, 2015

4.  Noah has three scholarship applications that he needs to work on.  If he gets the aid I think he will, plus these scholarships, I think he’ll be doing well financially.  He just needs to keep his grades up, but if he works as hard next year as he is this year, I think he’ll be fine.  He’s very self motivated.

5.  Our newest Neflix treat this week- Making of a Murderer.  If you like crime shows and documentaries, this one is very compelling.

6. I’ve blogged before the importance of having pictures of yourself.  That has become even more evident to me as I have scoured my photos to find one of Irene! Irene didn’t hide from being photographed, but she didn’t pose for single pictures either.  Note to self – at the family reunions, don’t just take pictures of the kids, make sure to get some of the adults as well!

This was a nice one I blew up from a group photo taken at Calvin’s wedding.

7.   I also found this one of me and Mr. Pete from the wedding and I really love it.  I like that my smile isn’t forced but I also like the way Mr. Pete is holding me.  It just feels like “us.”