Sad Day

We drove home from Laguna Beach last night after the live music ended at the Art Festival. It's a quick 40 minute drive without much traffic on the freeway at that hour.

Since Mr. Fun has vacation this week, we knew we'd come back to the coast today. So about mid-day we did a quick Internet search and discovered an inexpensive motel in Laguna. We phoned to learn a room was available, the price is affordable, and we were on our way. The motel has a great view of the ocean. The photo on the top left is the view from our room. The grounds here are lovely. So after checking in, we walked one block to the shore, took a few photos, and then hopped on the free trolley/shuttle that transports visitors all around Laguna.

As we were on the trolley, Mr. Fun's cellphone rang with a call from his nephew who called to let us know that Mr. Fun's brother has passed away this morning. We got off the trolley and Mr. Fun continued talking and gathering details and desiring to console his nephew.

It was last autumn that Mr. Fun's younger brother, David, was diagnosed with terminal liver disease. He was told he had a very short time to live and we never thought he'd live till Thanksgiving. Well, he did and even seemed to get better for a while. Lately it seemed that Dave was doing "okay." So even though we knew he was in bad health, the news has caught us off guard.

The grief this summer seems to continue to roll over us every few weeks beginning with the passing of Bob dog on June 3rd who was a member of our family. Four weeks later our adult daughter's dog, Katie, died suddenly on July 2nd and a fresh new layer of grief was on us. Now another. Today an ocean of grief has hit. We are stunned. As I type Mr. Fun is on the phone telling his 87 year old mom this news.

So, we will stay in Laguna tonight. We may even go listen to some live music somewhere. I'm not sure what tomorrow's plans will be.

We don't know yet what David's son and daughter will plan for a memorial. So the phone will keep us posted. I think it is no accident that we are at the ocean's edge . . . a place of solace.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol