Thanks

[Azusateach]

Thanks for your support, all.  

The last couple of days have been busy, with me spending over 3 hours on the phone today calling my mom's friends around the country.  Some go back 50+ years to college & nursing school.  It was a real gift to hear them talk about her and the impact she'd had on their lives -- who knew?  Apparently I have a grocery bag full of envelopes waiting for me -- people who'd been in touch with my mom in the last couple of months.  I'm thinking that I'll make some sort of letter & send it out after the memorial service, since there are a number of people out of state who won't be able to attend.

My brothers and I are getting together this week to begin the process of dismantling her home.  We'd really like to be able to keep her depression-era glass (sugars & creamers) together, so all 120 sets may be coming home with me until we can find someone/somewhere who'd like them.  And Erik counted that she's got 73 Hummels, too.  Whew!  We're hopeful that we'll be able to find a good, honest estate sale company to take care of those things that we don't want, and then the business of putting her home on the market will begin.  Luckily, my brother Mark sells real estate and knows what he's doing.

We'll have a memorial service for her on Dec. 7.  My SIL's mom is having eye surgery next Friday, so that weekend is out, and then we're into Thanksgiving.  And since there's no gravesite to go to (she's being cremated), we can pretty much have it when it works for everyone.  

It's a bittersweet time, to be sure.  But as long as we think about what my mom wanted and where she is now we're really okay with everything.  And it's really brought the three of us closer -- a true gift!  

So, thanks again.  You're all dear friends.