The Yesterday That Wasn't

Yesterday should have been wonderful.  Light-hearted.  Joyful.  Centered around family.

Yesterday all fresh hell broke lose.  Oh, and my family certainly helped.

Yesterday, February 28th, was my parents golden wedding anniversary.  Not many folks manage to make it to this milestone, and there were times when both parties wondered if they'd get here ... but they did. So it is reason to celebrate.  I used my trusted florist and we sent 50 roses of all kinds of color to my parents, who were so pleased that they'll be sending us photos.

Yesterday was also the anniversary of my second year at my current place of employment.  And I really like where I work and what I'm doing.

Yesterday a member of the extended department did something SO damn dumb and SO lame-brained that I really, quite honestly, wanted him fired.  (And, honestly, I still do today.)  This is a power I do not have in my position but still.  This particular individual believes his educational history gives him superiority and he never fails to belittle and/or talk down to those who are TRYING to assist him and yesterday, he screwed up so big *and* failed to own up to it that I really don't know if I'll be able to hold my tongue when I see him next.

Yesterday my work day ended and, as I drove home, I listened to a voicemail message from my sister - a woman who never hesitates to point out her incredible communication skills and tact - and the message pissed me off so badly that even my commute time home wasn't enough to calm me down.  She managed to tell me what had happened without actually saying it.  It was something like "so I guess you know, but if you don't, call me and I will fill you in, but if you already know you don't have to ..."  It made me yell into the traffic with frustration and disbelief.

So yesterday I came through the door of our home and greeted my husband with a verbal vomit of venom.  "Hi.  My Uncle Denis probably died last night.  And one of the department managers had a team member who had items stolen from his desk and, for reasons I cannot fathom because we're all so stupid compared to him, he decided to NOT call Security OR tell the administration.  And my sister is an insensitive moron and no, I will NOT be calling her back."

And, sadly, my Uncle Denis did pass in his sleep sometime during the night.

Yesterday my own Father, a man I love dearly but who has the emotional maturity of a six year old when it comes to family grudges (a trait I'm told he inherited from his father), left it up to my Mother to drive to my Uncle's home to wait with the Sheriff for the proper individual (the person my Father is avoiding) to arrive to ID the body.  On her 50th wedding anniversary.  Neat, right?

Yesterday leaked into today with my sister calling me to say that she's heard from a reliable source (a Cousin whom I'VE never thought to be reliable for anything other than being a drain on his father's patience) that my Uncle's will wasn't what he always said it was and that she was upset "for both of us" that we wouldn't be getting anything tangible to remind us of our Aunt.  (and I reeeeeeally wanted to say "yeah - that's NOT why I'm upset" .... but I didn't.)

"Oh", she added, "I  heard the flowers you two sent were lovely."