Grieving In the time of COVID-19

My grandmother, my last surviving grandparent, died one week ago today. Non-COVID; she just ran out of time.

We buried her a little over 24 hours later. And when I say “we” I actually mean “a few members of the family” b/c of CDC guidelines on gatherings as well as funeral home skittishness with being around both the living and the dead. Our governor hasn’t seen fit to issue a shelter in place order, but there are those of us here who see what is going on around us and are reacting accordingly.

It’s very odd to lay someone to rest with ten people in attendance when it would easily have been twenty times that; everyone understands the circumstances but personally I’m PISSED. Not about her being gone; she got nearly a century on this rock and I have no beef about that. I just wonder how many other people have gone/will go through this that perhaps didn’t have to because of the weaponized ignorance we’re currently living under in this country. The hatred of everything and anything connected to PBO has gotten and sadly will continue to get people KILLED. I for one would love to see some light at the end of this particular tunnel.

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RIP Walter

New Ground

Personal log, 201703.6

I have returned from laying Papa Cisco to rest. My brother stayed behind to tend to our mother for a few additional days. We had a week of remembrance, but very few tears. The last eighteen months had not been kind; the last two weeks unkinder still. It is a terrible thing to pray for a release that takes a loved one away forever, but if it had been Papa’s call to make, this outcome is the call he would have made.

The truth is, Papa was a comedian of sorts; he enjoyed making helping people and making them happy. He did a LOT of that; his memorial brought the largest turnout in recent memory according to the Minister; a testament, he says, to the type of man Papa was.

There’s a certain expectation among the Cisco clan, even (and especially) in times such as these. I literally have a lifetime of memories and instructions to carry our legacy forward, and as the eldest son it is a matter of personal honor that I do so. Mama is holding up well; having gone through my own loss not so very long ago, it will be my task to help her find her way if need be, as she did for me. However, she is both stronger and better prepared for this than I was; I fully expect that she will be more worried for us than the other way around.

I am sad that Papa is not here, yet grateful that he is with Mrs. Cisco now; they became fast friends over the years, and the thought of them together watching over the rest of us gives me comfort.

End log.

RIP, George Duke

The music world lost a legend last night as George Duke passed away, one year after losing his wife to cancer.

Rest well George, and thanks for the music you shared with us.