Memorial

Today was good. The girls slept a little on the way over. The memorial was nice. Unsurprisingly for a graveside interment, the songs were a cappella. You know, except the ones that featured a banjo (which was excellent) because that’s how this side of the family rolls. I had forgotten she & her first husband (my Grampa) eloped. Her father had put her on a bus to go off to nursing school, my Grampa borrowed a model-T & caught up with the bus, forced it to pull over, & got my Gramma off the bus & they ran away & got married.

My parents’ best friend was their pastor for a long time, so essentially we have a family pastor. He married P & I, buried both of my Grammas, he shows up randomly at events my parents have, they all went to Scandinavia & Russia last summer. Afterwards, after most people had dispersed to my uncle’s, he came up to my Dad & said, do you want to put the box (she was cremated) into the ground? My Dad said sure, so they went over & lifted the little rug thing off the board that was covering the hole in the ground, then pulled up the cement block. My Dad was on the other side of the hole from the box, so the pastor asked my Mom if she wanted to do it. Just then my aunt #1 walked up & freaked out — adore her but she tends to have an opinion of how things should be done (as do we all) & she thought the cemetery folks were “supposed” to do that. The pastor poo-pooed that notion & as my aunt continued to state her opinion, & the pastor continued to say it was alright, my Mom took the box and lowered it all the way down herself. The pastor stopped by the office on his way out to let them know it was in the ground & just needed covering. The only thing missing was the overdub of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”…

We followed my parents to my uncle’s. There was a big ol’ spread, a beautiful yard, good company… There were two poster boards with pictures of my Gramma at various ages. My Dad said he scanned them all & would send them to me. Very exciting. They were very cool. There were pictures of the fish she caught, them around the car they drove over the pass, one where she looks suspiciously like M1, and various & sundry.

M2 helped herself to the chips, shamelessly. SHAMELESSLY! We eventually got a tour of the house — my aunt #2 makes a living by going to auctions & yard sales then reselling treasures. She has a very good eye. The tour ended in the kitchen. He pointed at a row of pitchers that used to come in flour sacks. He said, “See that second one from the right up there? I found that one in the alley one day. It had a chip on the lip, but I brought it home to your Gramma. You know what she told me? She told me, ‘I have a use for that, thanks!’ And from that day forward, it was always in the fridge, filled with kool-aid.” Then he looks at me & says, “Can I give your daughter a little baggy for some chips so she can carry it around?” As if the child needs more chips, but he’s my mother’s beloved older brother, so I said, “Sure.” Very slowly & deliberately, he reaches into the drawer where they keep all their bags, & pulls out a gallon bag, opens it up & hands it to her & says, “Go fill it up!” Then he went outside with her & helped her fill it.

The Ms 1&2 were *so* good today. They impressed the heck out of every one. We got some adorable pictures of the girls in the yard. At one point my aunt #2 looked out across the yard & saw M1 standing there, and said, “I can’t believe how fast they’re growing! She’s going to be tall! And gorgeous, look at her there with her hair!” (it was in a twist & up in the back). On the downside, we spent nearly 8 hours in the car today — four of those hours on the way home. M2 got a *really* good nap on the way home, with the end result that she’s still awake. Yes, at nearly midnight. She’s going to be a tuckered little kid tomorrow! But right now she’s awake & very, very chatty. She’s making plans to watch Star Blazers & the Muppets tomorrow.

Huh. I got some sun today. In fact, I have burned one arm slightly. And it’s nearly midnight. Time to call it a day.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

I was standing by my window,
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

I said to that undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord, I hate to see here go

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

Oh, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

I went back home, my home was lonesome
Missed my mother, she was gone
All of my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

We sang the songs of childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that our mother taught us
Hear the angels sing along

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky