Originally Posted by ribbons

Arrived back home a short while ago after a sad day at my sister’s house, commemorating my late brother-in-law on this first Father’s Day without him for my sister and nieces (my niece who is getting married, and my younger niece). It was an exhausting day – my sister is not doing well at all, and she and my niece who is getting married have been at odds with each other in their grief. My younger niece is shy and just sits there withdrawing into herself. She’s a lot like my brother-in-law who was a humble person and the peacemaker and glue that held his family together.

I just want to thank you so much, Marie, adidasss, Guybrush, Plank, Lisna, TH, for your really thoughtful posts and great advice, and even for making me laugh here and there (not an easy thing for me to do) about my public speaking dilemma. The subject of my speaking at the wedding reception did not come up at all today; but I know that my niece, her fiancé and I will need to discuss it again soon. Thank you all again for even caring to write – which means an awful lot to me right now.