Family in Utah

In 2004, I married Leah and instantly had 7 brothers and sisters-in-law. And spouses. And I became an uncle. And Leah and I had been dating for several years before that and visited them and been visited by them in California. For 15 years to do I was in the family. Christmases and Thanksgivings and Easters and mental health struggles, and the struggles of kids and nieces and nephews, and graduations, and marriages and travel. I was family. In 2019 we filed for divorce. When the divorce was final, I disconnected. I was no longer an in-law, or so I thought. Much as occasional correspondence said otherwise It was right for the time to step away. When I heard, just a few weeks ago, from Leoh (née Leah) that my former sister-in-law Laurel was sick with cancer I was concerned. And soon thereafter, I heard that she had passed. A day later, Leoh sent me the details for the funeral. Not an invitation, not a proffer, but it was understood between us that I’d want to know. I was presented with…