A Week of Ups and Downs: Holidays, Loss, and Everyday Life
October 6 (Monday)
The day after coming back from my trip.
It was also the day of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), so I went to my maternal grandmother's house for lunch.
After that, I went to my parents' house and spent the night.
The beloved one at my parents' home.
October 7 (Tuesday)
Originally, there was a memorial service at my paternal family's house, but it was discontinued after my paternal grandmother passed away two years ago.
So, recently, during holidays, we would visit my grandmother's charnel house and then take my grandfather out for a meal.
But this time, my paternal grandfather was hospitalized, so we went to visit him.
He seemed healthy just a few months ago, but suddenly he started having headaches and went to the hospital.
And it turned out he had lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain, and they said he only had 6 months to a year to live...
It's such a sudden and devastating situation, but when I went to visit him, he was complaining about the hospital food and seemed surprisingly well, which was a relief.
But just 10 days after the visit, he passed away from acute pneumonia, and we held his funeral last weekend.
It's natural that people die someday, but the death of someone close to you is so sad.
I'm trying to overcome my sadness by thinking, 'The spirit world is where souls originally belong, and living on earth is just a short trip for the soul.'
My grandfather's trip ended, and he returned to where he belonged, and I will return there someday too. I'll just continue my journey for now.
After visiting him, we also celebrated my dad's birthday.
It feels like time is flying by; my dad is already 50. I hope my parents stay healthy past 100.
October 8 (Wednesday)
Ugh, it's a day to go to work.
Before work, I met up with my friends from school and had Deungchon (a type of Korean hot pot).
Hyerin said, "The store in my neighborhood doesn't give you this much water parsley?" and when we searched it up, it turned out that her store was Dongchon, not Deungchon, which was so funny.
And we went to a cafe, and while listening to Minda's new boyfriend story, I got so excited that I couldn't control my volume.
The guy sitting behind us yelled, "Shut up!"
If he had said it nicely, I would have apologized, but since he was rude, I don't feel sorry at all.
My shift closing didn't match, so I got off work late.
Plus, because it was a holiday, the last train was early.
So I had to take a taxi home.
Thankfully, the taxi fare was reimbursed.
After getting off work, I grabbed a drink with Junha, Yejin, and Chaerin in front of my house.
October 9 (Thursday)
I woke up late, hungover, and went to work again.
~ Just worked all day ~
October 10 (Friday)
Went to school and then took my maternal grandparents to the glasses store.
I "helped" them with the government's support money.
Ate eel for dinner with my family, using my dad's card.
For the second round, I went to Sorangdo with Junha (a guy with charming Doraemon fists) and ate Spanish mackerel sashimi.
Came home and watched <Party People Kongming!>.
I've only heard the Romance of the Three Kingdoms explained by a streamer, and even that was playing as ASMR while I was sleeping, so I don't really know the story.
But if you watch the anime knowing the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you'll be able to relate more to Kongming.
But it's an anime to watch without thinking, so I don't think you need to relate that much.
October 11 (Saturday)
Went to a Chinese restaurant called 'Shiyan' in Konkuk University area.
It's already affordable, but Konkuk University students get a 10% discount, so if you're a student, visit it.
Went bowling for the first time in a looooong time to digest.
B is me.
Yeah, that's right.
I'm really bad at bowling.
I couldn't get a grasp of how to bowl at all.
But in the last turn, I got possessed and miraculously won.
October 12 (Sunday)
Went to Seongsu Cultural Park with Ara and Minda.
I went to buy my coffee and bought some for my friends too.
I ordered an iced Americano for Minda, but they gave me an iced tea.
Hmm...
Then someone must have ordered an iced tea and received an iced Americano...
Climbing was really hard, and for dinner, we ate poke.
It was a menu choice that considered Ara, who's getting married soon.
I also need to go on a diet, but the dinners I ate the next day and the day after that...
Were like that.
I might have gained weight, but I was happy.
And the reason why I suddenly drink only Tsingtao these days, when I used to only drink non-alcoholic beer at home...
Ah! Tsingtao is cheaper than Cass.
I couldn't resist and stocked up on them.
October 16 (Thursday)
I, an expert at grabbing escape room cancellations, did it again.
I got Whose There's 'Ayako', which is famous for being hard to book.
How much dopamine will the horror theme of Keith's give me?
I arrived at the store with a pounding heart, and the staff member who came out to guide us was Jinseo (who used to work with me at JeWol).
I was so happy to see her after a long time. While admiring 'The directing is so good~', it was kind of funny to have a friend direct us.
The story, interior, and directing were all well-made, but there was a problem that was skipped due to a setting mistake, but they gave us time to solve it separately after, so it was okay.
The perceived horror level was around The Ring, and the problem difficulty was easy.
(Keith's recent themes are all too easy in difficulty... Since they're going to give unlimited hints anyway, they should make it a little more difficult. The theme prices are also very expensive, so it's a waste if you come out with a lot of time left.)
Went to Jingoo Gopchang and had large intestine and pork intestine with soju. It was really delicious when I was eating it, but Yejin and I both got food poisoning after eating it... Damn it.
And right next to that gopchang restaurant was the JeWol store where I used to work, so I stopped by to say hello.
And then went to a karaoke and drank until 5 am.
When I woke up the next morning, I suddenly heard that my grandfather had passed away, so I went to the funeral home.
I went to the funeral home with less than 4 hours of sleep and spent the whole night receiving guests.
I was so hungover, had a stomach ache, and a fever. I almost went to the afterlife with my grandfather.
And I had booked an escape room for that day, but they said I couldn't get a refund for same-day cancellations, so I went on a long search to find someone to transfer it to while I was so sad and exhausted.
Successfully transferred it.
It's obvious, but I didn't take any pictures during the three-day funeral.
Here's an old photo.
Chaeyeon ♥ Grandfather
Looking at my expression, it doesn't seem like I was very happy to be held by my grandfather.
I cried a lot during the viewing and funeral procession, but it was nice to meet relatives after a long time and share old stories.
Next time, I hope we meet for a celebration, not a condolence.
If I had to guess the closest celebration, it would be my wedding...
(I don't have any plans yet, but I want to do it before I turn 30.)
October 19 (Sunday)
I came back from the three-day funeral, but my stomach was still upset, so I ate chicken porridge.
I ate poorly during the funeral, so I was hungry even though my stomach hurt, so I ate a lot.
I'm embarrassed to say that my bowl was the size of a naengmyeon (cold noodles) bowl.
October 20 (Monday)
Went to work, took a nap, and went to pole dancing after a week.
I was too weak and kept sliding down.
My stomach seemed better, so I had a beer, but...
Well... I don't think I'm ready to drink alcohol yet.
Today, after work, I came home and watched Code Geass and am now writing this blog.
I'm feeling a sense of reality about my lazy life.
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