To Tom Meyer (in memoriam, Richard Meyer)
Today is my dad's birthday. He's 60, and that sounds so old! I think he and Monsieur are about the same age, but it's hard to tell...
To celebrate, I think my parents are just going out to dinner, as usual. I sort of feel bad I'm in France and not with them, but I think they'll get over it. I sent Dad a card in French with a cat doing the splits (I think he'll like it - even though he doesn't know French).
I also sent him an eCard...like the one pictured, in fact, that he will also appreicate, i think. Ok, sure, it was free to send and from the American Cancer Society, but who doesn't want to support a good cause? I think it has a good message.
His brother died of prostate cancer last year. Richard was 69. It hit Dad hard. They hadn't seen each other in years. My parent live in Wisconsin, and Richard lived in Texas with his (3rd?) wife Gloria. Richard was sort of a cowboy. I don't think Dad ever got to reconcile his childhood differences. We found out about the whole thing six months prior, when Gloria called the house in tears. She's a lot younger than Richard - maybe twelve years? It's hard to tell with Gloria. She has the blonde, boxoted look down. Their kids are still in high school. Jill is, at least. I don't know about Ricky. He flunked third grade twice, so I always forget how old he acutally is. He's a year younger than me, but I think he's still a senior...I'll have to ask Dad. My cousin Travis (from Richard's first marriage) works in Chicago, but I haven't seen him since I was six and he was fifteen and I accidentally whacked his shins with a tennis racket when we were all visiting Grandma and Grandpa Meyer that summer. Travis never liked me much after that.
Dad went to Richard's funeral. He was the only one to go from our family. My mom didn't want to go because Gloria makes her uncomfortable. She has the right, I guess. Gloria makes me uncomfortable, too. I didn't go because I was in school. So was Colin. It was right around midterms in November. I felt bad, but not bad enough to actually hop on a plane to Galvaston and bid Richard adieu. Dad said Gloria broke down. She had worn a veil of painted black roses and carried a rosary around and said she had to pray for Richard's soul, or else he'd go to hell becasue he'd been divorced (twice). Gloria isn't even Catholic. I guess my dad was raised as one, but we haven't been to church for years. I can remember getting my first Communion, and that's where the memories stop.
Travis was at the funeral, of course. that's how Dad found out he's living in Chicago. He's workign as an engineer at one of the power plants, still single, though he said he might try Match.com or eHarmony one of these days. I don't know if that's a joke. I don't think I'd bother. I'd feel kind of like a loser...especially when I haven't really tried meeting acutal people in real life all that much. Who knows? Maybe eHarmony is the wave of the future and that's how we'll all be meeting our spouses in ten years. I have not idea. Travis isn't even a bad looking guy or anything. He's just a pompous ass.
Nothing much else happening in my neck of the woods. Just class, class and more class. Blech. I thought studying abroad was supposed to be one big party. Maybe...this is better? I won't want to shoot myself when my grades come in. Unlike other of my compatriots? Well, Sarah heard about this party at some club or something for the international students on Friday. I'm thinking of going.
Love, Annabel
PS - Happy Birthday, Dad!
PPS - I don't think he reads this anyway...Mom does, but she screens it. I hope I'm not being too much of an insensitive bitch. We'll find out if I get an email, or a trans-atlantic phone call...
As you can tell, no dice. Maybe if I found a millionaire to support me...but I'm not holding my breath.
