Jeweled Web

Hi! I've been out of touch for a week. Out of town for a memorial service and funeral mass for Pat. Stayed with the family and just did little things to help out where I could. I was a bit hesitant to stay, but the family really made me feel welcome and that just by being there I was helping. The memorial service and funeral mass were very nice indeed, although I choked up when they wheeled Pat out for the last time. The other time it really hit me, I was standing in Pat's kitchen and I suddenly missed her like no one's business. That was HER kitchen and her arena. That kitchen was one of the defining models for her role in life. There is an O.T. theory called "Model of Human Occupation", or MOHO. It states that subconsciously we all define ourselves by our "roles" in life. Those roles can include, but are not limited to, things like: student, daughter, son, mother, father, brother, teacher, caregiver, care-receiver, bread-winner, etc. If any of those roles suddenly change we are faced with the stress of having to re-define ourselves for the loss and/or addition of roles.

Even good changes can be stressful - weddings, births, graduations, etc. The harsher changes have grief added on top of all that.

I'm back at home now. Little at a loss since this weekend I'm going away on a previously planned "girl's weekend" out in Myrtle Beach. We're going shopping, eating, shopping, and shopping. We're also going to see the Murder Mystery Theatre. Oh, and did I mention ... shopping? We're going to the flea market as well. I may come home with nothing or lots of stuff, but it doesn't matter. It's all about the girls getting away and having fun.

Gotta run now, going out to eat with some friends.
Later!
God Bless