Tired to Death, Tired of Death, Day of the Dead

Maybe what I need isn't Noble Silence but a couple of days under the porch. Or a night on the jar with some friends.

I know, I know, it's the Day of the Dead, All Saints' Day, blah, blah, blah. I'm supposed to reckon with the dead and tell 'em what's going on, and leave cookies and milk by the Christmas tree for them, oh wait, am I getting my holidays mixed up? Or is this the day when those guys roll back the stone in front of the tomb after three days and yank out a disgruntled rodent? Maybe it's the one where we celebrate those people fleeing religious persecution in England because they brought smallpox-riddled blankets to wipe out indigenous peoples...

Can't seem to keep my bank holidays straight...

Even though today's supposed to be el dia de los muertos, honestly, I'm tired of death. Really, really tired of it.

Just got off a the phone with my sister, who was hysterical because she had to have another one of her cats put to sleep today. This one was really hard for her because he was her late husband's cat, and really her last tie to him. Okay, he was probably the most evil cat you've ever met (his name was Chaos), but still.

All these deaths -- pets, parents, relationships...it just makes me tired. I think if I went home tonight and found one of my plants dead I'd probably kill myself.

All I can say, and I'll say this again, if I'm ever at the point where I'm blind, deaf, and incontinent, make sure there's a needle for me.  NO EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES. There, it's in writing, these are my words, and that's the fact, Jack.

So here's my Day of the Dead shout-out to my Dads:

Dear Dad:


Hope you're doing okay wherever you are, and that there is lots of cold beer and good sprint car racing there. Were you able to take up smoking again? I know you really missed your Pall Malls, even after you had the quintuple bypass and had to quit.


I still miss our phone calls on Sunday morning after all the talk shows. Just in case you don't have cable wherever you are, we did dodge a huge bullet with that moron from Alaska. And don't get me started on the Teabaggers.


Things are pretty good for me right now. Got promoted at work, thought you'd like to hear about that. And oh, I met a guy, and didn't have to go halfway around the globe to do it, like some other sisters of mine I won't mention.  You'd like him. I sure do. A whole lot.


Well, that's all I have for ya, Dad. Hope Mum found you, I know she was always asking where you were after you left. She would even make me turn on the outside lights for you so you would be able to find your way up the driveway. "Where's my danna-san?" she would ask. "He should be home by now."


I'll bet you guys are sitting in some 70's fake-wood paneled room together right now, and she just made you one of those little plates of pepperoni and cheese for a snack, just like you used to like. Am I right?


Hey, Dad? If you're still anywhere around, knock something over or slam a door or something, okay? Your baby girl really misses you.


Love,
AiAi