i haven't really been able to process the past few days, starting with Saturday night when I heard that Uncle Ron was sick. And then, it all moved pretty quickly. Now it's Friday morning, and there have been masses, relatives, and all these people people people just waiting to see him. It's in times like these that I learn a lot about my family. That's the silver lining on this storm cloud.

People have come home. Cousins on the Poe side are here, some of whom I hadn't seen in years. Grandmo is now at our house, too. She's so vital. It's great talking to her. She wants to hear all the small details.

Thank God we're not pushing through with Ilocos. I don't want to do that anymore. Not this year, anyway. We're pushing for a credit with them. Somehow. That reminds me, I better make the phone call now.