Tuesday, April 15, 2003

There’s a lot on my

There’s a lot on my mind right now, and more on my plate - so I cant be as loquacious as I’d like.  But it’s therapeutic for me to vent this out a little, so here’s some notes from my commute home yesterday about - you got it - my grandmother: She had a sense of propriety - acting well and properly at all times.  I believe she did, in her life, many things she found distasteful, and many more that were objectively difficult.  But she confronted all of life’s obstacles with perfect poise, a cool elegance that bespoke more of her Julliard days than her Lima decades.  She ran a tight ship and demanded everybody’s utmost, with a rigor and partiality that caused no little offense on occasion.  But the rigidity of the protocol officer cohabitated with the breezy wit and easy grace with which her every act were infused.  Four foot nine, 100 lbs, tennis well into her 70s.  Library, symphony, museum, hospital - all raised and supported by dint of her tireless efforts.  Bore two children and an often-bumbling husband.  Kept a spotless house and lots to eat.  Loved a good laugh but brooked no nonsense.  Classed the place up wherever she went.  A woman who could make the name Zerline sound beautiful.  No approval was sweeter, more meaningful.  Shrewd and clever, literate and articulate.  Maintained her propriety all her days.  May God intend as much for me. 

I think that does it.  I’m feeling much better about things; I’ll be flying out for the funeral (out sunday morning, back monday evening).  Meantime we’ll have three beloved houseguests and a passover seder to orchestrate (but, thankfully, not to host).  Things come thick and fast.  Let’s see what happens next.