Tuesday, June 06, 2006

THE UPLIFT AND THE DOWNLIFT

My M-I-L's memorial tea was this past Saturday. I must admit that it was a lot of fun. There were a few tears but mostly it was a laughter filled hall. We set up with my brother-in-law and his family the night before and the day of. We set up card tables with tablecloths over them and put coffee mugs and teapots and paint brushes and flowers as centerpieces. It was set up like a cabaret. We had music (an original composition by daughter #2). It was the first time I heard her piece in it's entirety. Wow! My M-I-L died in the helicopter that was bringing her to the hospital. Daughter #2 explained that and told everyone the name of the piece is "flown". She was incredible. There was song. We had an MC who introduced people as they came up to the mike to tell stories. It was great!!
Horrid sister was there. She snubbed her siblings (no great surprise). She took our daughters aside and said things to them like, "I know you live with the enemy" and "No matter what your parents say about me...blah,blah,blah....". Our amazing girls held their own and politely told her that it wasn't like that in our house. Unlike her we do not engage in such talk in general.
I'm infuriated with her for doing this to my children. I am deeply saddened (sadenned? The first one looks right.) that she seems to have no filter, no sense of what you say to an adult verses what's appropriate to say to a child. It's is quite clear to me that at the moment she is venom and is not getting anywhere near my children!!!! I am also feeling like I let my girls down because I didn't see it coming. I didn't prepare them for her pulling them aside for a secret chat. What a dope!!!!! I apologized to them. I was blindsided. Well not really. In the context of everything that is going on it is true to horrid sister's character these days.
We have offered her a very reasonable settlement which was presented to her a week ago. No response.
She left a nine minute rant on her mother's best friends voice mail two weeks ago. She said that as long as she draws breath her brothers will never set foot into their mother's house. Shit...eh?
On a happier note...I've been taking a weaving class and love it. I get there at 7pm and two minutes later it is 9pm and the class is over. I love the rythm of moving my feet from treddle to treddle and gliding the shuttle over the warp. Back and forth, back and forth. It's a tidal and ancient rythm. It's sanctuary for my soul.
Like my weekend...the rythm of the uplift and the downlift.