His memorial service was yesterday. We all entered quietly, respectfully, grieving, but not with a hopeless grief. We supported my husband's mother, and laughed with those whose memories accounted for numerous hilarious episodes; all of us acknowledged that this man was significant to us in countless ways, and that we would find living without him unutterably altered.
But we were thankful, and said so. We came together later on, at the folks' farm, and watched dozens of slides of his life, and of his many experiences hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. The man was a wealth of experience! He led a rich life.
And everyone came away hoping they were also counting their riches in non-monetary terms.
Why do we take the time to gather, and to memorialize? I think one reason people do it is to remember that our own time is not unlimited; to bend the knee, and acknowledge that we don't control the timing of our own endings.
Some have said they don't think they will 'bother' to have a memorial service, or funeral. I think they would miss so much, such an opportunity to come together and honor the person they lost, and their significance in the world.
At least, this worked out very well, for us. We did not simply look back, but came away wanting to look Forward, to focus on the future, and to teach our children well.
So - here's to the rest of the road!
See you along the way!
the SconeLady
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