… it’s been a long week.  If I may say so, it would be nice if I didn’t have to go through a week like this one again.

First off, thanks to those who sent messages and condolences–and, also, to those who thought about it but didn’t quite know what to say.  Having been there my fair share of times, I know it ain’t easy to sit there and think, “I feel like I should say something, but I don’t know what.”  And so, you say nothing but don’t feel quite right about it.  Thanks anyway

The service was lovely — James’s cousin, a priest, led both the rosary said at the viewing (once more: if I don’t have to do that ever again … ), and said the mass on Friday morning.  In the meantime, I kind of cut myself out of the world at large–I didn’t answer e-mails unless absolutely necessary, and I will just remember last week as a gigantic blur that resulted in one less friend, several new ones, and a new car battery.

I also cooked.  A lot.  I managed to discover a new kick-ass salsa verde recipe and a new favorite black bean recipe … and I also managed to figure out exactly how many people can be fed off of both.  I’m trying the black bean recipe with pinto beans right now, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be as good.

I’ve also found that walking through Sam’s Club with 15 rotisserie chickens in your shopping cart is an excellent way to meet total strangers.  No, really: the number of people who felt the need to comment on the large number of chickens in my cart was a bit surprising.  Perhaps they thought I didn’t know how many I had.  Several of them asked if this was a new fad diet.  (I should have said yes.  Honestly, that’s the best answer to such questions.)

And so.  Life, as they say, goes on.  The guests who hurriedly assembled after last weekend are making their way home.  It’ll be rough for Bianca, likely for a long time, but she’s strong, and she has an extensive support network of people who will be there for her to see her through this as long as it takes.

As for me, there’s only so long I can stay out of the stream without diving back in, and the 16 pages of Arabic I need to read for tomorrow is a good start.  That and Pete’s reminder that tomorrow is the 12th.  The semester is almost over–who knew?