Michèle Investigates My Squid

Michèle Investigates My Squid
Originally uploaded by NanaP.

My sister came to visit last spring. We spent the weekend in San Francisco. One night, after the night tour of Alcatraz, we took a horse-drawn carriage ride, and then had dinner together at Chioppino's, a restaurant near our hotel. It was quite good.

I don't like squid. So, I fished all of my squid out of my chioppino (soup) that I ordered at Chioppino's restaurant in San Francisco.

As I fished my squid out of my soup, I piled it onto my bread plate. My sister lives in Minnesota, and doesn't like seafood. She had never even seen squid.

The waiter laughed and asked if we wanted him to take the squid away. She said, "No, no! I'm not done looking at it!!" It was rather amusing, and made the waiter laugh.

I think Michèle looks beautiful in this picture! She's a beautiful sister and person.

Before my mother passed away, the ALS had made it so that she was no longer able to speak. She had a machine she could type into that would say what she typed, but that wasn't so great for telephone conversations. We kept in touch by email. We even exchanged IMs a few times. As time wore on, it was usually emails. They weren't so frequent, but I was glad to have the correspondence and to have shared that time with her.

To better preserve those memories and better ensure that nothing happens to them, I am going to share some of them here. The letter below was written after I had sent her this picture and a picture of just the plate of squid.

Dearest Nana,

I had to save your letter of 3/13 because it touched me very much, especially the sign off...that was sweet and funny...just the way life should always be. It's in my Nana file.

And then I had to send the squid pictures! They are great! When you get a chance, please make me a 4 x 6 copy of each of those. And please make ones for Fifi too...she doesnt like the way she photographs, but she looks gorgeous in the photo with the squid.

Yes, it was sad about uncle Chris. How was his deces brutal? I thought he was just found in his bed. Maybe the brutal part is that it took 2 weeks for him to be found. That is the saddest part of all...to be so alone in life that no one even misses you for 2 weeks. Don't worry about Dad and his lack of interest in his children. He is the same toward me and always was. He has a sociopath personality. He says the right things, but he doesnt mean them. Maybe it would help you if you do what I did (I wasn't able to do this until I got my diagnosis...then my anger and resentment just went away all by themselves because I didnt have room in my mind and soul for that burden)...just forgive him for what he did to you and don't expect anything from him. He doesnt know how to love his family. That is his loss. You know that you are a good daughter, sister and mother. You dont need the approval of a man with no moral compass.

Fifi had a great time. It was a very good sister-bonding trip. And she needed a vacation too! She got a big kick out of the squid. She said the waiter offered to take them away and she said "no...I want to look at them!" Pretty funny.

Judy and Jim came out to visit for a couple of days. It was very nice. They hung the Life magazine pictures and they look great. I put the one with all of the kids' underpants showing...we are sitting on the ground with Daddy, Gert and our dog, Rexie...until you send me the one that is my screen saver. Then I will switch them.

I have another big favor for you to do for me. Will you please go to the French side of the French consulate web site and sign Al up as a French citizen. I dont know how to do it. The local French consul(Minnesota finally has one) said Al qualifies because he married me, the great citoyenne francaise, and all we have to do is fill out the forms. I would appreciate it very much if you would do that. Then, if he ever needs medical care that he can't afford here (because Medicare sucks), he could go to France or Martinique or somewhere French and be taken care of. I know it's a pain in the neck, but I really need your help and I thank you in advance.

It's exciting that you are moving. Now Morgie will have a dog and a cat and you will be living the American dream... 2 beautiful and smart kids, and a dog and a cat (but not 2 cats in the yard). You don't need the husband part of the dream...that was good in the 1950's...not necessary now.

I love you very much too. Write that thesis (Take your time so that you are satisfied with it. Otherwise, it will bug you. I spent more time on Harvey's thesis than I did on mine, and I've always regretted it), sign Al up as a good and loyal Frenchman (After all, he deserves it....he grew up in Frog Town) and come back and visit.

Lots of love always, Momma

Unfortunately, I never got her picture replaced. I'll have to do that for Al, I think that would make her happy.