Christmastime is Close & and a Memorial

Evidence of Christmas grew exponentially on Friday evening.

Wendy decking the halls...

...and Keoni and Aidan be-decking the tree...

...and Karma finds fuzziest place in the room.

Saturday was my move to Quakertown for a three month stay at friend Marge's to look after her place...

Out the back patio doors this morning. Squirrels, birds, neighbor walking his dog and cat.

...while she visits her brother in Charleston, SC, and points in between.

Emma Grace who has a cold and cough with Marge at her first stop.

Aidan manfully carted a ton of stuff from my room to the car and from the car to three different floors at Marge's; the top floor we're calling the studio and Aidan carted a huge portion of my art stuff up there to get busy and fulfill that painting I promised for Lenten stations of the cross at my church. Time to get that supper on the table! Aidan and I had a nice time with Marge's electric stair chair, too, sending some heavy stuff to the second floor, including a ride for me and for him. He deserved the treat we got when I took him back home via our favorite Energy Station local restaurant.

I'll look forward to seeing Toby through the winter at Wendy's. She promised to give him a smidgen of goat milk in the mornings.

Aidan's Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO) was this afternoon. He wore his new tuxedo and the music was just wonderful. They were joined by the Upper Darby High School Choir for several selections.

Post concert. One long day that started with cello lesson, on to orchestra rehearsal/performance, followed by he, his dad and brother going to the Eagles vs Cardinals game. I took Wendy home.

______

I'm glad Aidan and I had some good work and good moments together on Saturday because unsettling news came from my sister Jeanenne who called with sad news that our brother Joe, who was estranged, had died or possibly was about to die, but information was scarce. By late afternoon sister Susie called and said he'd gone into hospice care during the week and one daughter and granddaughter had flown into St. Louis Thursday night and another daughter was on her way from the West Coast. Late last evening Susie let us know he'd just died. I am understanding he didn't want a funeral.

So, I am repeating this photo that I took the other day. I didn't know then it would illustrate my brother reaching his winter's end.

Peace be with you, Joe.