On the Other Side in Everyday Ramblings

This is the hallway on the next to the top floor of The Sorrento Hotel in Seattle that I stayed in last spring when I saw my older sister for what turned out to be the last time. We stayed in this hotel for weeks when we were kids. It seemed huge then. I was 5 and she was 15 moving away from California where all her friends were to Seattle.

She became fiercely, loyally attached to Seattle and although she lived in San Francisco for about three years, Seattle always was her home.

It took five hours after the staff took her off life support to pass. They managed the drugs very well and she was being monitored as she was still in ICU. She did not regain consciousness but her daughter Miss T. and Kes were with her in some combination during that whole intense time, holding her hand, singing Girl Scout songs, talking about Miss E. They were both there when she peacefully stopped breathing and her heart stopped.

Most Honorable lit candles in an array that my oldest sister had given them and sat vigil at home, as I did here. We were all in constant contact via IM. There was a great deal of love, some moments of silliness, and we all felt antsy and restless as various times as well.

Dr. Bob, do you remember Dr. Bob? He gave my oldest sister a massage about five years ago, as a gift from me. He emailed me on Tuesday and asked if there was something going on, he was getting pictures of me.

He is a naturopath, and a healer extraordinaire, and obviously tapped into the mystery. He does energy and light therapy but I have always just gone to him for massages. He also has a PhD in Sociology and taught at the professor level for a time.

When I emailed him back and told him what was going on, he said he was getting pictures of my sister as well. Insert the Twilight Zone theme here…

He says he also sees me being very supportive. And I taught two wonderful yoga classes this week. I am so glad I have this opportunity to teach.

There will likely be a wake for my sister at some unspecified future time. She knew a lot of people from all walks of life and touched many folks. In the meantime they made the cremation arrangements today.

I’ll be going up at the end of next week for three days to start organizing all the financial matters and help clean and clear. Miss T. and Miss E. will have to move as they cannot afford their large expensive vintage apartment.

There is a long difficult road ahead but we are supporting each other and we will muddle through the best we can.

Thank you all so much for your condolences both here and on Facebook. It helped us last night so much to know there was a web of caring thoughts from out there surrounding us and holding us dear.

Last updated January 22, 2015