May

I never realized it before, but May is a pretty busy month for the Waters family. Why I didn't know this, I can't say. Probably because I don't pay that much attention to things.

In May my family celebrates at least four birthdays (both brothers, my Aunt, and my grandfather). Then there is Mother's day. All of these are packed fairly close together. I just have my baby brother's birthday left to screw up deal with.

On top of the usual course of events is a bit of sadness. This year, earlier last week, in fact, we lost my Great Uncle Vern. My head isn't always the best for collecting dates... But I think he was ninety or so. For the majority of his life he was as spry as could be. In his advanced years, he flew an ultralight. At eighty (give or take) he fell out of a tree he was climbing and I seem to think he broke a collar bone. More recently, he suffered at least one stroke which pretty much took him out of things.

Note a lot of vagueness. I wasn't exactly close with Vern. I'm not the most outgoing of human beings, and that little failing has probably cost me a chance of knowing a very interesting man a little better.

Such is life.