23 August, 2011, Sydney, Australia~

Dear Journal~

Meegin Christina Quigley writing; hope this finds you all in fine fettle.  Me, I'm not doing well: last month, we buried Mum; she passed away on 4 July, 2011.  Heart attack.  It was sudden; we weren't expecting it in the least.

Charles, me brother, came from the States to be with me and Pop; he just went back to Tennessee last week.  Mum's death hit us all hard; we are still reeling and not believing that she is gone.  We miss her so much; it is all I can do to keep from crying yet again.

Pop is with me; every day he sits and stares out the window. I'm worried that he has given up on life: he doesn't eat (much) or do anything; he just sits there, tears running down his cheeks, looking so sad and lonely.  It breaks me heart to see Pop looking so ... so ... old.

I was ready to kill our stupid cat, "Monster": he tried to get "Squawky", our red macaw, but then "Squawky" tried to tear him a new rear hole; now "Monster" stays as far away from "Squawky" as possible.  Don't blame him.  "Monster" wandered into our life one day earlier this year; he is a twenty-five pound Maine Coon cat.  And he's as dumb as a box of rocks.

Notice I say "Ours".  Yeah, I have me a roomie.  A friend from work named Alissa (called "Liss" for short).  She is 45 and a lesbian.  I'm not, but her partner broke up with her, so I let her stay here with me for a while.  I told her as long as she doesn't try any "funny business" with me, then she can stay.  I'm not into that lifestyle; I'm as straight as an arrow.  :) 

Liss is really sweet, rather shy and quiet; as for me, I'm very cantankerous, loud, and boisterous.  Ask Charles; he knows me too well!  LOL

I wish I knew what to do to help me poor Pop: I hate seeing him being so broken-hearted and depressed.  I could get him into counselling, but he told me forthright the other day he "ain't seeing no g-d shrink".  Don't blame him on that, but he's gotta let go of this anger/bitterness/depression before it ends up killing him as well!  I don't want to bury another parent in less than a year; we're still reeling from the shock of our mum's passing!

I wish Charles was still here, but he had to go back to Tennessee so he could go back to his work.  He had no choice in the matter.  So it's just me, Pop, and Lissa (as well as the critters).

The weather here is very cold and snowy.  We have had a lot of that here in Oz.  It's been one of the coldest/snowiest winters I can rightly remember.  It usually doesn't snow this far south, but we've had snow on more than one oaccasion.  Very pretty to look at, but extremely treacherous to drive/walk in/on.  I fell once this winter and hurt me back; took me several weeks to get over it.  Back still twinges me a little if I move wrong, but am doing a lot better.

I will be more than happy to see spring come next month; I'm ready for flowers and warmer temperatures!!  In fact, I'm more than ready!!

Well, "Monster" is meowing incessantly; guess the beast wants to be fed.  I will write in here again; sorry it's been so long.  Hope you understand; it's been a horrible few weeks!  Just keep us in your prayers; we would greatly appreciate it, but pray most for me Pop; he's the one who's suffering the most!

~Meegin.  :(