Last Thursday morning I began compiling a videotape for my grandmother, who was ill. I left the last pieces of performance footage dubbing when I left for rehearsal so the tape would be done and ready to mail when I got home.

Between the time I left the house and got to rehearsal, I got a voicemail on my cell phone that Mimi (my grandmother) had taken a turn for the worse and didn't have much time.

By "Much Time" I thought they meant... shockingly, perhaps, a week...

Mimi was gone by noon.

I miss Mimi, and I can't home for the funeral tomorrow.

The Christmas show opens Thursday. It's not very good.

Doesn't offer a lot of solace or reason for missing such an important family event.

The point is, I loved Mimi, and I miss her. Very, very much.