Yeah, that's why this all hinged on my mother's feelings. If she says she doesn't feel like she needs us there, and as far as I can tell she's being honest, then that pretty much settles it. I chose not to come down for Thanksgiving after all and instead I'm planning a trip for January when I think this will all start sinking in and she'll REALLY need some support and attention.

And speaking of co-workers, I'm not sure if I ever complained here about the completely tacky and senseless decision of my uncle not to close my grandfather's company on the day of his funeral in order to allow the employees to attend. Instead, he just had the cortege drive past on the highway so they could stand by the fence and watch it.

So imagine my horror during my uncle's procession when I realised that the idiotic route we were taking to the cemetery was plotted in order to us down that same stretch of highway. That fat-headed decision has now become family tradition.