The Visit
Big brother came to town. I haven't seen Jim since Patrick passed away. He arrived Saturday and will be visiting until very early Thursday morning.
So, what did I do Saturday? I stayed up until 4:30am playing Slap the Jack with my sisters, Jim and my parents. We drank a lot of beer. I slept on my dad's recliner, Lisa on the couch (brat) and Kate on the other recliner. We were silly, corny and had probably one of the best times together.
For those wondering what the heck "Slap the Jack" is, its a card game. Here's how to play:
1. Dealer flips cards over in a pile, if s/he flips a Jack - you slap it
2. Queen - you whistle
3. King - you say "yoo hooo"
4. Ace you make this weird "pfft" sound with your lips.
If you do the action before everyone else, and get the right action with the right card, you grab the whole pile. At the end of the deck, the person with the biggest pile wins.
I just tried to google directions, but none of the games I found have all these crazy rules. Anyhow, its a really fun game to play with a group or with kids. And trying to whistle while laughing your ass off is actually pretty difficult.
Other highlights of the weekend include a most wonderful corned beef and cabbage feast with the whole clan yesterday. Mom's apple pie, blueberry pie, my aunt's brownies, and other such wonderfulness.
Through all of this madness and silliness, there is a bigger meaning behind this trip. After Jim and Heather left MA last year, Jim flew directly to Seattle, WA where he was working. All the grieving, the sadness and all the things that we went through here... we had each other. We had lots of time together and moments to just talk about Patrick and what he meant to us. Jim was surrounded by strangers who didn't know him at all. He and Heather couldn't just get into a car and visit his grave or drive by his house or where he worked. It was almost as though it didn't happen.
He's here for closure, for time to feel this and be with those who knew Patrick too. Who loved him and miss him in the same way. Its a good visit.
So, what did I do Saturday? I stayed up until 4:30am playing Slap the Jack with my sisters, Jim and my parents. We drank a lot of beer. I slept on my dad's recliner, Lisa on the couch (brat) and Kate on the other recliner. We were silly, corny and had probably one of the best times together.
For those wondering what the heck "Slap the Jack" is, its a card game. Here's how to play:
1. Dealer flips cards over in a pile, if s/he flips a Jack - you slap it
2. Queen - you whistle
3. King - you say "yoo hooo"
4. Ace you make this weird "pfft" sound with your lips.
If you do the action before everyone else, and get the right action with the right card, you grab the whole pile. At the end of the deck, the person with the biggest pile wins.
I just tried to google directions, but none of the games I found have all these crazy rules. Anyhow, its a really fun game to play with a group or with kids. And trying to whistle while laughing your ass off is actually pretty difficult.
Other highlights of the weekend include a most wonderful corned beef and cabbage feast with the whole clan yesterday. Mom's apple pie, blueberry pie, my aunt's brownies, and other such wonderfulness.
Through all of this madness and silliness, there is a bigger meaning behind this trip. After Jim and Heather left MA last year, Jim flew directly to Seattle, WA where he was working. All the grieving, the sadness and all the things that we went through here... we had each other. We had lots of time together and moments to just talk about Patrick and what he meant to us. Jim was surrounded by strangers who didn't know him at all. He and Heather couldn't just get into a car and visit his grave or drive by his house or where he worked. It was almost as though it didn't happen.
He's here for closure, for time to feel this and be with those who knew Patrick too. Who loved him and miss him in the same way. Its a good visit.
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