My Cousin Just Died

[ER]

I literally just found out. What a shockwave that just hit me....

That's unreal.

When I was a child growing up part of the year in Ireland I was second oldest in my generation on my mom's side, which was a switch because in America on my dad's side I was youngest. One cousin over there was older than me, her name was Magda, she like being called Mags, I don't know why, and she always had a slight chip on her shoulder about her parents "having" to get married, and she was a big girl, much bigger than I was even though she was only a year older, and when local kids dared allude to her parents having to get married because she came along, she'd always fight them. Girls, boys, older, younger, the Prod terror from down the street, they teased her, they ate fists. She'd look out for me over there from all threats but wasn't above picking on me mercilessly when the idea appealed to her. She and I had an apocalyptic fight one Easter when she pushed me down and ruined my beautiful dress my American grandma bought me. I still think she let me win.

Oh, she was a wonderfully terrible influence on me, teaching me how to read tarot cards and sneak out at night, showing me where to stand to throw bottles off a railroad overpass, introducing me to her tough friends so they could make fun of my accent and do their best to corrupt me.

And she knew so many dirty jokes, including my favorite:

What's the difference in a peeping Tom and a pickpocket? (One snatches watches.....)

Oh my God though, my loud Irish cousin who used to crush me with goodbye see you next visit hugs....is gone. Died in her home in London where she'd lived most of this century. Dying on enemy ground, ha.

Man.

She was always a big girl, big-boned our grandmother said, but she gained so much weight these last twenty years, she told me last Christmas her doctor weighed her at 267, and she smoked all the time, got drunk way too often, and she never exercised.

Lord, still, it feels like this came out of nowhere.

Oh, and with the quarantine I guess most of the family won't be able to go to her funeral, and Irish do so live for funerals.

I guess I'm more shocked than sad right now but....she's gone. Just wow.

I hate death.

[Rev. Powell]

My condolences. 

[RCMerchant]

I'm so sorry. 

[Allhallowsday]

Great reminiscences, Evelyn.  I am sorry too.   

[Alex]

Sorry to hear this. May your happy memories comfort you in sorrowful times.

[ER]

Thanks, guys. I'm trying to stay upbeat like Mags always was but.... terrible news it is.

[indianasmith]

I am very sorry to hear this.  I know you were fond of her!

[bob]

 

I'm so sorry. My deepest condolences.

[LilCerberus]

sad to hear

[pacman000]

  I have no words. Will pray for you & your family.

[Paquita]

So sorry for your loss.

Did you ever have that episode of sleep paralysis you thought you were going to have last night?  I wonder if that bad feeling was related.

Lots of love to you and your family! 

[Trevor]

Sending warm hugs to you and your family.

[ER]

So sorry for your loss.

Did you ever have that episode of sleep paralysis you thought you were going to have last night?  I wonder if that bad feeling was related.

Lots of love to you and your family! 

Oh my, I didn't think of that. But no I ended up sleeping fine, no terrors. Now I'm going to try to remember that feeling. It was a tired, "off" feeling but not exactly one of foreboding. Interesting thought!

[claws]

I wish you peace and comfort as you grieve.

[ER]

Thank you all, again. It was a sad day for my family, I was sort of in shock when I wrote that today, but we're going to do an Irish wake for her over here, my aunt (who was also her aunt), and my cousins, and I think Mags would approve of it....in fact since it will have drinking, I know she would've. She had such a bright, sloppy, BIG Celtic spirit. I will really miss her.

But hey, as they say in many an old sad song: athruithe saoil. (Life will always hold changes.)