So much to tell

Let me start with some awful news that came from my family in Germany this past weekend. A cousin-by-marriage was shot and killed by her husband. My cousin had been utilizing shelters for some years, apparently. I never met her. She was 40 years old and left behind two daughters, aged 9 and 10. I recently read Brian Vallée's book The War on Women and now all the statistics and stories of the women in that book have hit home. My uncle, my cousin's father, has had several bypass operations and has a weak heart. We are worried he will not be able to withstand this shock. Years ago one of his two sons (three children altogether) was in a severe car accident and he remains severely brain-damaged and is in a home. The other son and his wife will try to adopt the two girls.

Needless to say, this was the worst possible news. It's one of those things you think happens to other people, but to have it happen in your own family. I've been very sad ever since.

In happier news, Blogdog will be interested to hear that I've gotten quite addicted to knitting. It's hard to fit it in between watching German premier-league soccer matches, practicing piano, walking long walks with the dog, reading, and, oh yeah, working and sleeping. But I manage.

In other unrelated news, this past Palm Sunday I was officially confirmed in the Lutheran Church, so that was a big event. But our pastor has since left us to take a posting in Wisconsin of all places, which is sad because he was really the most sincere, down-to-earth person, with fluent German and English so that he was able to conduct the two services. We will miss him, and right now we are limping along.

More soon, hopefully. I will check in with all my regulars this week.