It was a difficult time
for my Mom's side of the family. She had only one sibling and no cousins to speak of, and Fred's wife Joanna had only one sibling, a developmentally disabled woman who had spent most of her life in institutions.

Joanna had died of cancer. Both Fred and Jo were doctors, so they knew the real scoop almost immediately, and she chose to forgo treatment in favor of a morphine drip at home with her favorite foods. It took far too long for her to go, really, so when she went it was something of a relief.

Nonetheless it was hard for Fred and his kids, so Mom insisted that my sisters and I go with her to the memorial service in support of her side of the family. We did, of course, and it was a teary occasion. Their oldest son made a speech which was both funny and sad as he told of his dad having no idea how to cook and thinking that the microwave was some strange sort of TV. His descriptions of his mother taking most of her calories through hot fudge sundaes now that she didn't have to worry about getting fat got a laugh, leaving us all a bit misty, and even the sister stood up to speak a very few words.

After we went to Fred's house for the reception, and he was very happy to see all of us there. Mom was very supportive, even though she and Joanna had never really gotten along well- they were two extremely strong-willed women, so the clash was inevitable. Mom was a force to be reckoned with in her day, verging on domineering, which Jo disliked- probably because she was pretty similar.

As we stood there, Mom spotted Jo's sister in the crowd. She quietly said to me "I should go over and introduce myself, as she probably doesn't remember me."

I watched as Mom made her way to the sister, Mom smiling and showing a very sympathetic expression as she introduced herself. I saw the sister give a look of recognition and say a few words, at which point Mom's expression changed to something very odd. She recovered and smiled again and spoke, then made her way toward me with the same shocked expression I had seen across the room.

"Well? How did it go?"

"I told her who I was and she said, 'Oh, I know you! You're the one Joanna always referred to as the General!'" Mom said this in a deeply offended tone, rage starting to show through.

I looked at Mom's fury building and about pissed myself laughing. After a moment of shocked offense at me her expression cracked and she laughed harder than I had seen in years. We stood there gasping with tears running down our faces and holding each other up as the others stared in surprise.

Jo, I know that you didn't mean it to be funny, but thanks for that. Even Fred cracked up later when she told him.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 16 Apr 2013, 18:51, 5 replies)

Cheers.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Tue 16 Apr 2013, 23:15, closed)

It was rather good.

(the other guy not the one that gave you coochie warts, Wed 17 Apr 2013, 4:26, closed)

Great, but what we really want to know is whether your phone went off during the service and if you scored a free bottle of communion wine for upsetting Fred so much he left.

( BraynDedd Natasha Kaplinsky's labia majora, Wed 17 Apr 2013, 15:24, closed)

You really are a bore.

( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 18 Apr 2013, 6:13, closed)

Don't worry.
I'm sure he'll take it on the CHIN.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Thu 18 Apr 2013, 9:49, closed)