Musings on a New Year's Eve

As 2013 is about to go into the history books, there are reasons to look back--not just at 2013, but at life in general.

Eight years ago today, my brother died suddenly and unexpectedly while out shopping in River Forest, IL.  I didn't get the news until New Year's Day when the RF police found  me via email.  (To this day, I don't know how that happened.  Doug hadn't had anything to do with me OR our sister for six or seven years prior.  Something he had on his person when he died eventually led the police to me, a next of kin, online.  The message was. "If you are the sister of Mr. Covill, please call us at this number.  Mr. Covill is sick and cannot speak for himself."  Of course, I immediately called, only to be told that Doug was gone.  I think the female officer in charge of the case was hoping that the Plainfield Police Chaplain would find me before she had to break the news, but he didn't show up at my door until I was on the phone with her.  He was knocking when I told her, "I think he's here."  Her response was, "Tell him that the Internet found you before he did!"  (I didn't tell him that, obviously.  He seemed relieved to know that I'd already received the news and that I wasn't totally falling apart.)  I did shake for awhile, but I didn't fall apart!  The next few weeks were busy and traumatic as my sister and I planned and arranged for Doug's last rites as a brother and a veteran.  I simply cannot believe that was eight years ago!

I have often complained that New Year's Eve is highly overrated.  And it is.  In my whole life, I have only experienced two NYE celebrations that even hinted at the hooplah that the rest of the country touts.  The last few years have been a bit different, since my Russian-born son-in-law has been in the family. New Year's is the BIG holiday in Russia--even bigger than Christmas.  All of us have endeavored to follow Russian traditions, and I kind of like it.  I'm not with them all this year, however, so it's back to "bidness as usual" in my house.  I will meet up with Meg and Deniska via Skype just before midnight tonight, then will fall, face first, onto the bed for the night!!

This time next year, in the absence of an absolute God-given miracle, my extended family's constellation will be different.  These things can't usually be predicted, but my niece's husband has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and probably won't live beyond summer.  That whole side of the family will be affected.  And then there are the things we don't know will happen. 

If you are reading this, it means you are more devoted than average because my blog is BORING.  Still, I wish you all the best in 2014, with God's blessings!!!! 

Happy New Year!