Crap

'K, I don't even know how to begin this so I'll just dive in. My sister-in-law died. The girls and I were on the last leg of our journey, at my aunt's (technically The Spouse's aunt but she claims me as her own so there) when the call came yesterday morning. It was very weird to be coming off a superfantastic week of revelry and hear the news.

My SIL had not been well and we'd all been mentally preparing ourselves for the fact that she'd probably leave us sooner rather than later. Turns out, though, she died in a house fire. Everything is still crazy and up in the air and we don't know much, except that the authorities on the case (in Orange County) have been nothing but marvelous to The Spouse and his brother.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. SIL and I were never super close, mostly because she lived in SoCal most of the time I've been in the family, but we had a good relationship. The first words out of her mouth when she met me were "My sister!" and it's always felt like that. She was a troubled woman but a very kind and loving one and pretty much right now we're all just in shock. You can mentally prepare yourself for a loss but it turns out that doesn't do anything toward preparing your heart.

I know how loving and dear you are all and appreciate in advance the kind words I know you're going to offer. Please keep The Spouse and his brother in your thoughts and prayers.

And right now, as Forrest Gump would say, that's all there is to say about that.