Results tagged “family” from Mrs. Happy Housewife

The memorial service for H's grandmother was yesterday and I needed some mourning clothes for D, who had nothing appropriate. Thankfully, I managed to pull together a few thrifty pieces we had:

• Talbots charcoal gray lined wool skirt - thrift store, about $5
• Joneswear silk shirt - Bealls Outlet, about $5
• Black leather boots - Bealls Outlet, about $8
• Black vintage scarf - my mother-in-law, free
• White seed pearl necklace - mine
• Pearl earrings - hers
• (not shown) Black wool coat - my mother-in-law, free

D is probably the only fourteen-year-old who goes to a memorial service and gets a million compliments from the fellow mourners. Those who know her best were completely amazed to spy her in earrings AND a necklace.

In other news, the memorial service was short, respectful, and a good opportunity for those who loved H's grandmother to celebrate her life. All things considered, I think it went as well as possible.

After H got home from work yesterday, we went to visit his great-aunt, Titi Pepita. The photo above is from four years ago, when she flew here from Texas. Back then, she was still able to play basketball with my kids. You might remember my mentioning her before. She's 104 this month and as fit as a fiddle, save for her hearing aid. There was a big scare a while back when she caught pneumonia and was very near death. At that time, I asked for your prayers. Y'all must have caught God's ear because she recovered and is as chipper as before. She is always happy and high-spirited. Even yesterday she was jolly, though H's grandmother who recently passed was Titi Pepita's best friend since childhood. Her vitality amazes us all. 

Well, Titi Pepita is flying back to Texas tomorrow to see her sickly daughter and I'm sure she'll be detained by some ignorant TSA agent. If Joan Rivers is a danger to security, what will they think of a short, old lady from Puerto Rico who can't speak much English and can't hear? I just hope they don't confiscate her hearing aid as an incendiary device.

Titi Pepita says she'll return later this year and we look forward to seeing her again.

After visiting with Titi Pepita, we happened to drive by a hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint we have passed for ages. It always smells delicious from the road and we say each time we pass that one day we'll have to stop there.  Well, yesterday we made a u-turn and seized the day. Let me tell you, the BBQ was as delicious as it smelled. The people inside were so pleasant, too. They even gave the kids free drinks while we waited for our to-go order. It turns out that the place is run by an ex-football player from the Buccaneers (Go, Bucs!). We tried a combo of pork, beef, sausage, BBQ beans, potato salad, fries, and their special sauce. All was so, so good - much better than the chain BBQ place, Sonny's. I was rather sad to let go of the leftovers so that H could take them to work today for lunch. If you find yourself near the Tampa International Airport, stop by Jazzy's BBQ. You will not be sorry.

And that is my "Carpe Diem" story for the week.