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My trips up to see them ended prior to college as my time there made my inclusion on the less-often trips more difficult, my parents moving to Wisconsin in my junior year basically impossible. Moving to California and the further lack of geographic commonality with my immediate family pressed my absence even further. Working for a start-up and the uncomfortableness I had since developed from the duration of my alienation from that part of my family kept me from going to my grandmother’s funeral; less-than-optimal income/savings and my current primary employer kept me from the pragmatic but inevitably depressing “last visit” to see my now deceased aunt a few months ago - both situations had continued a tradition that I’m not proud of.

For those of you with whom I’ve spoke about my father’s side of the family know that I’ve always been somewhat uncomfortable with the massive gulf in life experiences my immediate family has with them. My uncles, aunts & cousins from my father’s side of the family all coincidentally ended up (and never really left) the Oneonta area of mid/upstate New York. My uncle (father’s brother) and his family had the most similar experience to my own family’s, with their achievements like kids going to college. My aunt’s family (father’s sister) unfortunately had a rough life. Despite all of this, though, one thing always was consistent - the very real, sincere love these people have for each other and their persistence through it all. This strength, which I only recently realized, came from my aunt.

While I’m not much of a funeral person (who is?), I’m really happy that I came - I had my misgivings about how I would be received after my long absence, but I was pleasantly surprised I had nothing to worry about. They’re extremely wonderful people with hearts so big it sometimes take you by surprise (exhibited, for instance, in the warm & comforting, lingering bear-hugs we shared upon seeing each other after all this time). In my hiatus, I hadn’t completely forgotten that, but certainly the memory had faded to the back of my mind. I just wish my visit would’ve been under much better circumstances and with the opportunity to see my aunt alive, happy and healthy.

While I lacked specific memories of one-on-one experiences with my aunt that I could’ve shared at the memorial, I always had an indistinct warm, comfortable feeling of her. She was one of the most loving mothers and grandmothers, proud and happy of any accomplishment. She was simple (in an uncomplicated, not derogatory, sense) and straight-forward, strong with a bit of sass. Her running away when she was a teenager in search of the father that walked out on her and her family was an epic story within my extended family, and only an example of her strength of will. Despite my lack of personal experience in spending a lot of time with her, others’ memories of dancing the Lindy or inadvertently stealing feed-quality corn (which they didn’t notice until after they got home) from some field in their youth didn’t surprise me at all. She wasn’t in the position to change the world in a big, noticeable way, but she did what she could in her own world, with her family, her community, her church - which was, in her own world, readily and sincerely recognized and appreciated.

I’m sorry that I hadn’t seen her for so long, that I missed the opportunities to see her before she died, that I hadn’t gotten to know her better than I did, that she suffered through the cancer that took her life. But I will always appreciate having known her, for all those little experiences that may have gotten fuzzy with age but have given me what little I have of her. May you rest in peace Aunt Bobbie, and know that you’re missed by all who’ve known you.

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I’ve already mentioned the reviews over at Macintouch and Ars Technica. They’re worth the re-mention as the former is a good overview for the layperson, the latter an excellent look at nitty-gritty technology that will satisfy the geekiest of you (in some cases, it’s more informative than the information provided by Apple itself).

Building off the reviews, Macintouch offers some great bugaboo lists:

• Tiger Incompatibilities & Workarounds
• Third-Party Tiger Updates

John Gruber at Daring Fireball has started a list of random observations.

And with the introduction of the new Dashboard and Automator technologies, there have been a plethora of third-party sites vying to become the Versiontracker of Widgets and Automator scripts (well, I’ve only come across one site for Automator stuff so far).

• Automator World
• Dashboard Widgets - the best third party site I’ve found so far
• Dashboard Lineup
• Dashboard Exchange
• Dashboard Exposed
• Widget Developer - (should the mood strike you to make your own)

Of course, there’s always Apple’s own site, which you can easily access by hitting the “More Widgets” button above the “additional Widget Repository” within Dashboard.

So here’s a question: Have any of you upgraded yet? If so, have you found any Widgets to be of any particular interest or use to you?

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Owe it all to my mother

1. My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done.
   “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

2. My mother taught me religion.
   “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

3. My mother taught me about time travel.
   “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

4. My mother taught me logic.
   “Because I said so, that’s why.”

5. My mother taught me more logic.
   “If ! you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

6. My mother taught me foresight.
   “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

7. My mother taught me irony.
   “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

8. My mother taught me about the science of osmosis.
   “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

9. My mother taught me about contortionism
   “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about stamina.
    “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

11. My mother taught me about weather.
    “This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

12. My mother taught me about hypocracy
    “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

13. My mother taught me the circle of life.
    “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

14. My mother taught me about behavior modification.
    “Stop acting like your father!”

15. My mother taught me about envy.
    “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”

16. My mother taught me about anticipation
    “Just wait until we get home.”

17. My mother taught me about receiving
    “You are going to get it when you get home!”

18. My mother taught me medical science
    “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”

19. My mother taught me ESP.
    “Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

20. My mother taught me humor.
    “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

21. My mother taught me how to become an adult.
    “If you ! don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

22. My mother taught me genetics
    “You’re just like your father.”

23. My mother taught me about my roots.
    “Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”

24. My mother taught me wisdom
    “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about justice.
    “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.”

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