The Passing of a Step

I learned yesterday that my step-mother died this past weekend. My mother had read it in the Springfield paper's obituary and called me at work to pass on the news. My step, Jan, was a huge figure in my life, though mostly in negative ways. I told my father during our last meeting that I don't believe in hating someone, that the harboring of such feelings were probably not healthy in any way, but that if I did hate anyone on this planet it was most likely his worthless #@*!#2 wife. The woman treated me poorly from the onset, locking me out of my father's house whenever I was outside playing as a pre-teen when he wasn't home, or teaching her poodle to attack me as a form of entertainment. I could write reams of old memories about the woman's treatment of me as a child, so the news of her death was hardly upsetting. What has bothered me a bit, however, are the memories the news conjured up of the impact she had on the relationship between my father and I. I honestly believe were it not for her influence the two of us might've had a chance at some form of relationship, something better than what was. . .my complete removal of him from my life for the last decade of his.

In other news, my step-father, Jerry, who turned 80 in May, collapsed today at the gym and was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. His heart rate was in the low 20s so the doctors are considering a pacemaker since he's suffering from congestive heart failure as it is. I've selfishly hoped Jerry would hold on for a few more years, for my mom's sake but also for the sake of Megan since he's the only grandfather she'll ever know and I'd like for her to remember him as an adult. Jerry has been a godsend, good to my mom and family and the antithesis of what Jan was as a step-parent. So I'm very thankful for him and hope he has more years left in him.

The kids are doing well. Ian is now 13 months old and is all boy, climbing anything and everything he can mount. He's not quite walking yet, but is a great cruiser along furniture and has been taking more and more tentative steps from one object of balance to another. Megan has been busy with summer school and swimming lessons. Her little best friend, Kadie, moved a few weeks ago, which was hard on her since she loved her little friend. I was at work, but Melissa said Megan ran back inside after seeing Kadie for the last time and laid down on our bed to cry, curled up in a ball.

I've seen quite a few movies this summer, my favorite being the Batman sequel, The Dark Knight. To an old comic book geek such as myself, it's amusing watching how such movies have replaced others as the standard summer blockbuster in recent years.

Haven't done much reading in recent weeks. I've been playing with the idea of going through A Song of Ice and Fire again, though I'd prefer learning of a publication date for the 5th book first. I picked up the new 4th edition ruleset for Dungeons & Dragons, but haven't had time to browse through it.

I'm off the next few days for bereavement leave (the only thing I'll ever inherit from my father, so I'll take it). Melissa and I plan on taking the kids over to my sister's house Friday morning to make use of her in-ground swimming pool, weather and Jerry's health permitting. I've always loved the water and regard swimming as an extremely important skill for children to learn.