Going to Virginia

There are so many out there mourning my grandmother's passing because she touched so many people's lives. 
Nanny was a down to earth (grand & great grand) mother, and care giver. She was determined, honest, strong-minded, and loving. 
The way in which she raised children was pretty much the definition of tough love.
Talking to several people, I think it's safe to say that her passing away was practically a life changing event; all of our hearts broke a bit upon hearing the news. 
We love you, Nanny.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Our taxi to the airport should be here in a little under an hour. My husband can't make it, but my son is coming along. 
Nanny's service is set for tomorrow at 11am at the church she frequented. Tonight, we're going to my aunts house to prepare a 'picture board'. Yesterday, I shuffled through all of the Facebook photographs I have of her, then picked up the prints from Walgreens last night. 

I cry, then stop, then cry some more. What did it for me this morning was the thought of them doing an open casket. Not sure what's going to happen, but to see her again would be good for me, I think.
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Nanny

My mother called a while ago. She had spent the 23rd through today visiting us up here in MN.
When she called this evening, I was thinking she wanted to let me know that she 'd arrived safely, but she informed me instead that my father's mom had died.

My father's mom who helped raise me, my brothers, along with other grandchildren, a bulk of the neighborhood, some of her great grandchildren, and even more children still.

Her methods were strict, but caring. Consistent lunchtime, nap, and snack time.
Tuesdays were pizza (delivery) days.


The thought of going back to Manassas now that Nanny has passed away is exceptionally heartbreaking.

Time Off/Mom's Paying Us a Visit

One last, quick update on the offended girl at work because I'm tired of thinking about her.
She seemed fine when I offered her a ride home a couple of weeks ago. It was the weekend, so I had the car, and she was standing outside. After she turned me down, I said okay, bye,  and walked away. She hollered  back 'have a good day', in a nice sort of way. I said 'Thanks, you too!'
Since that day, she hasn't spoken to me, and I haven't the energy to approach her again.

My mother has just arrived at the airport. Her next steps are to rent a car, then come to our apartment.
Then she'll check into her hotel room.
She will be our first visiter up north, and it's her first time traveling alone, so it's exciting.
 My son is elated to see his grandma, and I wish I were a better host, as I don't have much planned for her short visit. She's here until the 27th.
We plan on going to the Mall of America, which is an excellent idea, as is the biggest mall in America. Plus, the Rainforest Cafe is open after over a year of being  closed. They moved it from the ground floor up to the third floor.
My husband and I went there on the 17th for our eight year wedding anniversary. Their 'Natural Burger' is vegan, and thankfully tasty.
RC also has a few vegetarian meals. I think mom's gone vegetarian, or at least, on her way.

Rainforst Cafe has loads of animal products on their menu. Which seems counterintuitive when we're talking  mimicking a rainforest, as their restaurant does with their animatronic animals and pretend thunderstorms. (The lights dim out, lightening strikes, and the fake animals go crazy instead of seeking shelter.)
One would think they'd want to head toward the vegan route in attempts to educate people about how the rainforests are under threat, and dwindling thanks mainly to animal agriculture.
But, money is with the animal industry, as people can't seem to get enough of animals on their plates, day and night.
I digress.

If mom wants to, we could go strawberry picking. My boss, and coworker came  along with me to Wyatt's Strawberries last weekend, and we picked our own.
I walked away with a little more than eight pounds of strawberries.

Other than MOA and Wyatt's, I have nothing else planned. :/ Time to do some research.

Vegan

The deceased could be seasoned well, marinated, fried, baked, sautéed, or grilled. I'll never stop seeing the before 'product'.

Leisurely

After the shitty week I've had, the word of the day is leisurely. 
I've cleaned the bathroom. Put away the clean dishes that were in the dishwasher, and about to empty the sink of the rest. Cleaned out Kitty's litter box, and I'm dying over the grey as I type.
I read a little of my book, and will probably finish it before bedtime. It's afternoon already, but a few more household chores will be done, including making something for dinner before the day is out. All at my leisure. What a beautiful word.
Why have I had such a shitty week?
A newish girl at work, at the next table over, overheard me say the word 'nigga' as I relayed a story to the coworker on my immediate right.
The story was about how my son called me 'nigga' the week prior in my kitchen in a conversational tone. I was shocked when he called me this, and told him not to use such language. How someone might take it personally, or badly. My son tried telling me how everyone at school used the word, but I didn't care.
The girl at work was indeed upset after hearing such a word at work, and told management. Which, I cannot blame her. I felt like shit thereafter, and to this day, I'm not entirely sure why I said the word out loud. I mean fuck. It's just fucking laughable at the end of the day. An exhausted, eye rolling laugh. When I told my son about this he just said it wouldn't happen to him because he's half black and he laughed, and laughed. -_- I had to laugh, too.

The girl quit after working an hour the next day, then came back a few days later, and is still not speaking to me.

-_-

Fuck.
So, I'm taking it easy today. I've beat myself up enough.

*EditI must state the fact that I apologized to her
that day, just before she left. I told her I was sorry, and that it want not malicious. I guess my apology was not good enough