Cottage party and missing Alison

[dagibbs]

Another cottage party has come and gone. This one was, for me, more mixed than many have been.

I utterly appreciate how many people helped make everything go smoothly -- from volunteering for and doing meals, through bringing back-up supplies, organizing and doing dishes, to helping with the cleanup and close-down of the cottage. All of that made running this weekend far less work than it has been in the past, and I'm looking forward to next year.

I got out rock climbing on Friday, which was good, and got in a few games. I didn't get nearly as much gaming, climbing, or other activities in as I'd hoped, though, as I started getting sick (sore throat, low energy) on Saturday afternoon, and spent much of Sunday alternating between organizing to leave, and recovering from those little expenditures of energy.

I didn't truly realize, though, until this weekend that ragnhildr was gone. The cottage is where I've spent the most time with her, done the most things with her, and apparently where I miss her most. I broke down crying a couple times over the weekend. She is much missed. I can't imagine how hard it was for con_girl and foms. All my love and sympathy to them for what must of been a really difficult emotional ride this weekend.

Comments

[mycrazyhair.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's funny how location-specific grief can be. For many years, the place I consistently saw my sister and knew I would spend time with her was my parents' house. I associated their home with her even more strongly than I associated her own home, which I'd often visit (and crash at) when she was out of town. After she died, my Mom didn't understand why I was so reluctant to go home to Sudbury. It was just so hard.

But for Mom, going to my sister's home was the hardest thing. Not just because we had to go there to clean out all of her things; I'm talking years afterward. (Mom owned the house, and my brother moved in after my sister passed away.)

Which is a very long and involved way of saying, yeah. Totally make sense.

(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs* back.

[ckd]

*hugs*

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[switterbeet]

*hugs*

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

*hugs*, and thanks again for organizing and hosting this!

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and you're welcome.

Also, I think you may have left swim trunks & towel behind?

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

I think you think rightly. Perhaps we can do lunch soon?

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Not looking good for this week -- but maybe next week?