akirlu | Some Open Letters (Reply)

Dear Neighbors:

Reasons why I have still not finished painting my house:

In September, my dog's cancer came back.

In October, my dog died.

Then it rained for nine solid months, no lie.

In January, my Dad got really sick.

In February, Dad was hospitalized, got out, and I went to California to visit, and help my brother sort out the possibilities of hospice or home care.

In March, my Dad was moved to hospice where he died.

In April, my Mom was hospitalized and we feared stroke or liver failure or both, also, we had the memorial for my Dad.

In May, Mom was moved to a nursing home. I worked on convincing my brother that it was time to consider keeping her in one. Lost that one.

In June, the nursing home released Mom to home care again, and I started getting regular panicked e-mails and texts from my sister in law.

In July, the panic escalated as Mom tried to get rid of her home care provider by trumping up false charges of elder abuse.

August 1st, my Mom died suddenly. Cue another trip to California.

August 8th, the night before I came home, my cat disappeared.

August 14th, found my cat dead under an apple tree.

In short, it's been a crappy year. Hope to do better next time.

Signed,

Still haven't managed to pick up an extension ladder

Dear Friend and Faned-

Why I never got beyond the sketching stage on your cool fanzine illo idea:

See letter to neighbors. (Only never mind about the rain. It probably wasn't that much of a factor.)

Signed,

Not drawing much

Dear Everyone Else:

If I've dropped some more balls than usual, I'm sorry. It has been a crappy year.

Signed,

Me