Monday, March 3, 2025
I had a really busy weekend and when you hear what I did you might think I’m really sad. I am, but I also feel peace.
Friday night we got a spur of the moment dinner invite so we took it. We met our couple friends at Drake’s where it was nosy and the table was tiny.
Tom and I both felt spent after that dinner. We do not like going out at prime time!
Saturday I knew I had a big day ahead of me. I headed to my hometown and they were having a girls’ shopping weekend with a Mardi Gras theme. I looked around a bit before meeting my sisters at our parents’ house.
We decided to just have the three of us this time to assess and make a timeline of clearing out their estate. Now this was not the house we grew up in…our parents moved when I was 33, Kate was 30, and Molly was 27. So, we were all married and out of the house.
Something weird…
We have never seen these photos of our parents and they were sitting side by side on the piano. We are going to ask the kids and anyone who was last at the house if they found them and placed them there.
First we sat at the kitchen table and I had made a list and a copy for each of us. We divided up the remaining thank yous and went through some paperwork. We decided how to start going through things.
We worked for about 5 hours. Then we stopped to get ready for dinner out and on the way we stopped to see if our mom’s gravestone was done. Our parents are buried in the Veteran’s cemetery so my mom will have hers on the back of our Dad’s – I didn’t realize this. As we were walking toward their spot I just snapped a quick photo without really looking and when I looked at it…
Pretty cool, right?
We had a little time to kill and stopped in a brewery and tried a couple of local beers…
Remember the hearts last month? Now the town has shamrocks on the street lights…
We had a lovely dinner downtown…
We split a few things and then went home and watched a silly video we had made in 1998 that was Kate’s idea. Kate had wanted to make future predictions in 1998. She had it converted to a DVD in 2018. It had been since 2018 that we had watched it. So, we laughed and laughed. In the video I am 26, Kate is 23, and Molly is almost 20.
And, in this part of the video we did a sorority girl skit in old formal dresses we found.
Our parents, aunt and uncle, cousin, and family friends were also in the video. Kate’s first husband and Tom were also in it! So, it was a lot of fun to see them 27 years ago. We also looked at a family photo album.
Sunday morning we got up and got coffee – of course. Then, we jumped back in to cleaning out a few more areas. We put post it notes on certain things we want certain people to have.
I got home around 2 on Sunday and the fam had picked up the groceries and put them away and I collapsed. I rallied and made spaghetti, though.
Anyway, I think it went better than I anticipated. I feel good about what we did and how we did it. There were so many good things in the 24 hours we were together. We found penny after penny in so many places – lol.
I’m going to need a lot of coffee today!
That sounds right!
I am so excited for it to stay lighter out later! Yay!
How was your weekend? It turned cold on us again after such a nice week. Darn it! March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. The weather very much had lion qualities this weekend. There was a nasty cold wind.
Hope your Monday isn’t too bad?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
It sounds like you got a lot done. I’m sure it was hard but at least you have your sisters and you all seem like you’re close. Doing hard things with loved ones makes the tasks seem not so onerous? Madison looks like a cute town! I don’t think I’ve ever been there but it looks darling. Have a good Monday!
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We did – so much of what we did wasn’t sentimental – just an accumulation of stuff.
Madison is so cute! If you like live music they have some fun festivals.
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That sounds like a very productive weekend. I love that you all get together to handle and talk everything through together. I am sure that is such a huge help. Our weather turned very cold and very windy too but I am excited to spring ahead next weekend.
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It may sound fast, but my sisters want to start the work well before summer for a couple of reasons, which is fine. It was so fun at the same time. Does that make sense? Me too!
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I’m sure it was a tough weekend. I can only imagine. How sweet that you have your sisters and that you have so much fun together but can also lean on each other when needed. I bet that DVD is funny…& wearing the only prom dresses. Too funny! I appreciated the sun this weekend but dang it was cold. I hope you have a great week.
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It was tough but it was also peaceful if that makes sense. I have no doubt it was divine. We were so silly and loved hamming it up. The sun was so deceiving! March!
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Wow, the photos on the piano and then the sun shining right onto the grave site! I think you are getting messages that your parents are so proud of you all and so happy to be reunited.
Your hometown is so cute! You sisters work so well together and this time is so special. How fun to watch that old video!
xo,
Kellyann
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Right? I think we are. It comforts me.
It really is so cute. We had lots of laughs.
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I’m glad you have sisters and you’re all in this together. My dad is buried in Arlington and when my mom dies she will be in the same grave. I like that and find something sort of comforting in it. Love the video and laughing is good for the heart. Have a nice week!
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I can imagine how hard it is right now with all you are going through but it made me smile to see you and your sisters together working on everything- you are so blessed- I bet it was wonderful and funny to watch that video again-what an awesome memory- your town is so cozy and pretty!
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It’s great going out for dinner but I feel the same when it’s too busy, it wears me out!
How odd to find those photos of your parents.
It sounds like you had a busy weekend with lots of lovely moments.
Ohh! Our clocks don’t go forward until the end of the month which is so unfair as it’s Mother’s Day. Hmmf.
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it makes me so happy you have your sisters to help you get through this! I feel like you are getting signs that your mom and dad are at such peace! Yay for productive weekends and I hope it’s the sweetest first week of March for you!
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You did have a productive weekend. I am glad you and your sisters are doing this together. I love how festive your mom’s town is with the holiday decorations. I love the sunshining right down in the picture at the cemetary. I bet you three got some good laughs from that video!
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Way to be brave and face a hard day. It seems like y’all were so organized and I bet that was so fun to watch the video! I’m so glad you had time together.
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Thank you. We tried to be. It was so fun. This is making me really want to be a minimalist. While what you are doing is hard, it will guide what you let accumulate!
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That was a hard weekend, but how wonderful to have your sisters there for support (and fun.) We had a windy weekend too, but it was 80 degrees!
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So true. Oh my! Hot!
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I honestly love everything about this post. I think your parents are letting you know they’re together and all is well. I have only been to Madison once…well, it was to Hanover on a college tour for my oldest which means that was in 1997 or so! But, it seems like such a wonderful little town. I can never remember if I like when DLS begins or not. I do know it takes my body weeks to adapt to the change for both spring and fall.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Thank you – that gives me comfort. I love Hanover’s campus and almost went there. Too close to home!
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What a blessing that you and your sisters are on the same page and are there to support each other! I can only imagine your parents smiling down on you three and how proud they are of their daughters!
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Totally – I feel so blessed. That is sweet to say!
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