So there have been a few things I wanted to blog about, recently: more about Ubuntu on my laptop, what it does right and what it does wrong, Hot Fuzz or Spiderman 3, Chris Shiflett’s awesome Web App Security talk at work today (we’re hiring, fyi), my pending engagement and other Becki-related things. But around 3 today, I got a call that cleared my plate for the rest of the week, far beyond just worrying about blogging. When my parents call me at work, I know it’s something important.

My grandfather, on my dad’s side of the family, died this morning. Apparently this didn’t come as a shock to anyone in the family but me. I knew he had terminal cancer, but I’d been told he had another six months or so, enough that he might have been able to make it to his fiftieth anniversary. Enough that I could’ve gotten past my current cash problems and trucked up to Boston to see him. Apparently, at least to the people that aren’t horrible about keeping in touch with other people, this wasn’t the case.

I’m a little surprised by how people are handling this, so far.

My dad, the person I’d expect to be the most torn up about this, is doing a good job dealing with it. Don’t get me wrong, I know this is an absolutely murderous time for him, just like I know I’d be losing my mind if it were me, and my dad had passed away, but he rolls with the punches better than anyone I’ve ever known. He mentioned, and I agreed, that a) he was probably the best prepared for this, having talked to his father every day for the past couple of months, and b) the reality hasn’t really hit him full-force yet. When we get to Boston, I’m sure that will change, but the result of that one hitting home isn’t something I look forward to seeing. I can only hope that I can be that stoic when I end up in his situation.

My brother, for the first time since we were in High School, seems to be the go-to guy for my parents. Normally, they book tickets or hotel rooms in my name, but this time, I was at work and had to get the news from a voicemail half an hour later, and he answered the phone. I’m glad he’s finally gotten himself together to the point that I don’t have to be the one in charge. He got the hotel, he moved his finals up (I didn’t even know he was in school!) to make time, and we’re taking his car up. He’s working tomorrow, taking a Math exam, and taking minutes at an AA meeting

All that I, personally, had to do was call out of work and tell Rob I wasn’t going to make the gym this week, or his birthday party Thursday. I think I’m holding it together by focusing on the immediate plan - to go to work, run errands, and get to Boston. No time for feelings and such, there’s business to take care of, and I have a plan. The curious doublethink of knowing that I’m distracting myself before the storm, but still carrying on with it.

Personal business aside, work was really nice about giving me the time off on such short notice. Seriously, if you live near Columbia, MD, and are looking for a challenging but rewarding IT/web development consulting job, give OmniTI a call.

I’m looking forward to going back to Boston, a city I fell in love with growing up, and seeing my brother and parents, who I haven’t seen since last Christmas, and my extended family, who I haven’t talked to, or even so much as emailed, in over a decade. I’m not exaggerating there. It really has been that long, and it’s a little sad that it takes something like this to get us all together.

I’m leaving tomorrow night, and I’ll be back on Saturday.