Late Birthday Thanks and some sadness.

[mab]

Hello fandom!

I'm so sorry I've been so far away the past few weeks. My grandmother has been nearing the end of her life for the past month and I knew my birthday was going to be a hard time.

Nobody in my family (at home) remembered it and that was a bit of a punch to the gut, but then, as I get older, I'm not asking for much more than an acknowledgement. But fandom swooped in and blew me away and my birthday wasn't bad at all.

I received 60 well wishes in the forms of email, tumblr messages, lj pms, virtual gifts, lj posts, facebook posts, facebook IMs, and gifty things. So Thank you for that! Really it means the world to me. The Saturday after my birthday with my mom, grandma, family and uncle was bittersweet. It was a happy birthday/so long grandma party and you can imagine the awkward feels that inspired.

Anyway. I received word from my mother that my grandmother passed at 11:15 this morning after taking her death with dignity prescription and it was wonderful news. And my fandom friend slr2moons and I were out on our weekly walk when I got the news, so that was nice. I turned to her and said, "you know, I've been grieving for the past 3 weeks and now that it's over, all I feel is relief and thankfulness that she's not suffering and went on her own terms." Cancer is a motherfucking bitch and I feel really blessed that my grandma had the opportunity to take care of her affairs, to say goodbye, and to just let go before it wrecked her with more pain than anyone should have to feel.



Okay... jeez, mab... enough depressing.

Look at the birthday gifts my lovely friends did for me! Thank you all for being so unique and wonderful. The collective creativity and caring in fandom is magical. It's precious. Thank you.


A Haiku

Determination by digthewriter

A Drarry poem and Art

I'm Drowning by nobunakira

A Jason/Percy/Luke fic

Percy Jackson Has a Type by jercydrabbles aka yvieisqueer


A Jason/Percy (Jercy) ficlet

Birthday Jercy Treat by Razielim

The beginning of a new Apollo/Zephyrus series

Creepiness has its Benefits by malkuthehighwind

Comments

[writcraft]

I've been thinking of you today but haven't wanted to intrude. Love, hugs and I'm just an email away if you want to chat <3

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks, bb!!

I'm finding distractions through writing. Doing a collab piece just for the hell of it. XD

*hugs*

[nia_kantorka]

I'm sorry about your loss. Even if it was a relief for your grandmother.
*hugs you tight*

But I'm glad fandom gave you a wonderful birthday and showed its love. And it's comprehensible that you were put out with your family. *hugs again*

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

*hugs back*

[lq-traintracks.livejournal.com]

Wow, Mab, I'm so sorry to hear what you went through with your grandmother. I'm glad you've found that peace now that she has. You're in my heart tonight. <3

[lq-traintracks.livejournal.com]

I'm the deleted comment. LJ posted this one twice. Just didn't want you to worry about that!

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. It's really a good thing to know she went easily.

Also, funny story... my mom was sure to tell me that grandma chose to go while wearing her favorite pajamas which were a Christmas gift from me several years ago. That was really heartwarming.

[lq-traintracks.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful. :-) <3

[blithelybonny.livejournal.com]

A happiest of birthdays to you, my dear. So sorry to hear about your grandma's passing, but I am glad that it seems to have been more peaceful at the end and that her suffering is over.

Many hugs! <3

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *hugs back*

[winnett.livejournal.com]

Oh my, I'm sorry about the hardships going on right now... and that your family spaced. My mother died of cancer, too. It is a bitch. I kinda hate it.

Loves to you. And Happy Birthday.

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks, bb!

[drarryxlover.livejournal.com]

*hugs* ♥

[mab.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

[alafaye]

*hug*

[mab.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, I feel terrible for missing your birthday! In my defence, I barely remember my husband and kid's birthdays but YOU always remember mine.

I"m sorry about your Grandma. Cancer is a fucking asshole. No doubt.

[mab.livejournal.com]

lol.. no worries. I think the reason I remember yours is because it's near mine and LJ reminds me. I suck at birthdays the rest of the year.

Yeah.. Cancer is the thing that just needs to fuck off.

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry! I know how hard that must be for you. My own mom passed on my birthday a few years ago, so I always think of her on my birthday. It's always a little bittersweet.

((hugs))

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hun. *hugs back*

[zeitgeistic.livejournal.com]

So sad, but I'm so glad she had the option of doing it on her terms.

[mab.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm really glad she left the way she did too. I worked in long term nursing for 10 years and the end stages of cancer are a hell nobody should have to go through.

[blossomdreams.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother, but I'm glad she was able to find peace and go out the way she wanted to. *more hugs*

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm really glad she got to go out the way she did too.

*hugs too*

[iwao.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mab. *hugs you tight*

And Happy Belated Birthday. amor. I'm very sorry I missed it! *hugs you tight*

[mab.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Thanks, bb. No worries about missing my b-day. I got uber loved by fandom as it is. :)

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

Cancer is an evil bitch, but you are wise to see the consultation prize she brings: a chance to say goodbye. I'm sorry you lost your grandmother, but I am glad she isn't suffering. *hugs*

If your birthday didn't gp as you wants, maybe you need to have make-up birthday. It's never too late!

[mab.livejournal.com]

Yeah... totally. I am really glad she had the opportunity to settle her affairs and see all the people she needed to before passing. It was a great way to go.

XD I'm not really concerned about my b-day. It was just a wee bit of a not-happy feeling to have my household family not remember on top of being all sad about grandma's last days.

[capitu]

*hugs* I'm sorry for your loss, Mab. I'm glad you found peace though. THinking of you. <33

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks, bb. I really am doing fine though. If I look back to where I was at five years ago, I don't think I'd have held up under all the sad, so the fact I'm really feeling pretty good cheers me up a ton. Proof that I'm finally out from under the cloud!

*hugs*

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

Awwww, much sympathy and a belated happy birthday to you, darling!

*SQUISHES* <3

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You actually did wish me a happy birthday on time on facebook! So you're one of the lovelies that made my day.

*squishes too*

[who_la_hoop]

A happy belated birthday, my dear. I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs* ♥

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *hugs too*

[sophie-french.livejournal.com]

So, so, sorry to hear about your grandma passing. :(( I can only imagine how hard this must have been/must still be. :((

Lots and lots of hugs. ♥

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks, bb. *hugs* It was hard, but not really, if that makes sense. More than anything, I'm feeling relieved it's over and my grandma isn't hurting anymore.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your loss, but glad that you're finding relief in it as well, and that your grandmother was spared from pain.

Very glad you were surrounded by love and good wishes on your birthday! Hope it's a theme that continues through the year. <3

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so too! I have major fun plans to party with the UK fangirls this summer, so there are rainbows and sunshine in the days ahead!

[mab.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. I appreciate it. :)

[saladbats.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you had the chance to say goodbye and sit with her decision in the time leading up to the end. And know that there is a huge hug waiting for you from me when I see you next.