Dear Folks,

I wrote an entire note up there -- honest to Gosh! Poltergeists, p'raps?

I wanted to say how glad I am to be back at the 'Cat, and how delighted I am to see this friendly old thread refreshed -- what a thoughtful welcome!

Since so many of you have been very gracious in asking after my health, I'll tell you about it here. I don't want to start another thread with my own name on it, and all my old chums are likely to find me lounging about this thread I started so long ago, anyway.

I "still" have dilated congestive cardiomyopathy; when a virus "eats" part of your heart, it doesn't regenerate, you just manage as well as you can for as long as you can. Sometimes I am pretty sick, other times I can sustain the illusion of normalcy for several hours at a time. I was too sick for awhile to post regularly, and then, quite unexpectedly, I had a nice hiatus for almost a year, when I was feeling well enough to get about and do "regular" things, if I didn't push too hard. I didn't spend much time on the computer at all then, because it was so nice to be up and around. But that wasn't the main reason I have been so long away.

My mother-in-law and my father both passed away during the last year and a half. Settling their affairs took up most of Akiba's and my energies. These weren't tragic or unexpected deaths; both my dad, and Akiba's mom were elderly and ill. In my father's case, his passing was a blessing. He had lung and throat cancer, and was expected to live a few more wretched, pain-filled months, when he died peacefully in his sleep. Akiba's mom was eighty-eight, widowed and very frail; she had simply finished living. both of them left a lot of things to take care of, however, and we aren't done with all the minutiae even now.

We planned the funerals, ourselves. Since Akiba is a convert, and my father wasn't Jewish, we were each in the odd position having to devise a Christian service for our deceased parent, in spite of being Jews, ourselves. I am considering posting to the "Melting Pot Muddles" thread about that.

I also think it might be nice, since this is a music site, to start a thread about the musical choices in funeral services. We did some nice things, I think. Wouldn't it be nice to gather many such stories into a helpful musical resource for other Mudcatters who are preparing funeral services for loved ones? (I hope that doesn't sound too maudlin. I know I would have liked such a ready-made set of suggestions as I went about doing this necessary office to honour our parents.)

Again, I am touched that so many of you remember me -- an so pleasantly, too -- 'tis a wonder! I have missed you; it is nice to come home.

Shalom,

Shula