Random Tuesday and Coffee Chat

Time for a Random Tuesday post with Stacy.

Last Thursday, I wrote about my sister having shingles and about getting the shingles vaccine.  Well, I did it.  And doesn't it just figure?  I would be in the group that not only has all of the "normal" side effects, but also some of the rare ones.  The injection created a square patch of bumps, sort of reddish and sort of yellowish in color about 3 inches by 1 1/2 inches.  The center was a knot.  The redness spread, without bumps, to most of the rest of my upper arm, and it was itchy.  Redness, swelling, headache, achy muscles, and joint pain.  But hopefully, it will prevent shingles and the nerve damage that sometimes comes with it.

So, my sweet mother-in-law had to go to the hospital Sunday.  She'd had a cold, and she was having trouble breathing. They were supposed to keep her overnight, but she improved quite well and was allowed to go home.  I wasn't able to visit her while she was there due to my recent shingles vaccine.  She has a weak immune systems from her previous cancer.Thankfully, she is back home now.

And to top it off, my aunt died Sunday morning.  I'm leaving town today to go to Arkansas with my husband.  It's a long drive but he doesn't mind driving too much, whereas I fall asleep at the wheel.  The road hypnotizes me.  My sister can't go  (shingles), and my mom doesn't feel like she can make that long drive up one day and back the next, but there is just no way I can NOT go.

See, my dad passed away about ten years ago.  I don't think I've really gone through all the stages of grief yet.  My aunt that just passed is the last surviving sibling, and she was always my favorite aunt and my dad's favorite sister.  I loved her so much.  She was the sweetest lady, beautiful both inside and out, and she always cared for my dad and us.  My dad's family name is completely gone now as none of his male siblings had male children, and neither did he.  And with the last sibling gone now, I just feel an emptiness.

I have always wished I lived closer to my cousins.  Both my mom and my sister are about an hour away, but my in-laws are closer.  Do you live near relatives?

And now it's time for Coffee Chat.

Our dear host at Ink Interrupted asks us ...

Do you have a personal theme song?  Have you thought about picking one each year;  much like how blogs choose One Word?  

I've thought about having a "theme song" before, but I can never settle on one song.  So, I used this link that our hostess posted, and here is my result: