It\'s been a while...

I haven't written in my journal for some time, or been on DS. That doesn't mean that I haven't thought about my friends here. In July, Jessina and I made a trip to Texas to visit my mother and sister. We drove my aunt and uncle from Los Angeles to Houston (they are both 81 and have a home in LA and Texas). My Uncle Buddy and his brother Jack were only two years apart in age, and were very close. They joined the Navy together and were on leave in NY. Buddy met Helen and dated her, but she ended up marrying Jack. Buddy married a woman named Louise. Jack passed away 12 years ago and Louise passed away eight years ago. So Buddy and Helen got married at the age of 75, after having met and dated 50 years ago. That's why they have two homes. Helen lived in LA, and Buddy in Houston. They spend six months in LA, and six months in Houston. We visited my cousin in Houston, who is like a sister to me, and then flew to Midland, TX to visit my mother and sister. I had not seen my mother in four years because of needing to take care of Libra. We had a great visit, and my mother sang along to her Karaoke machine for the patients at the nursing home she is in during dinner. My mother used to sing in a band when I was young. She still has a great voice at the age of 87. Last month I flew to LA to visit my other sister, since I didn't get a chance to visit with her in July. She is one year older than me, but we went to school together from first grade to graduation in the same classes and grade. Many thought we were twins, but we look nothing alike. Both my sisters are great. I was closer to my older sister, since she was more protective of me and more of a mother figure. My brother is in a nursing home in Georgia (he had a stroke about the time Libra was diagnosed with cancer). My next trip will be to go see him, but I don't think I can go until after the new year. He was a great brother, although five years older, he never excluded me and was generous with everything he had. I'm looking forward to seeing him. Jessina and I are doing fine, but I'm still having a hard time with losing my daughter. Jessina thinks I should go out more and start dating, but I'm not at a place where I have much to offer. It will be one year on Nov. 27 that we lost Libra. Maybe next year will be better.