Saturday, December 22, 2007

Gone

My grandfather is officially gone. I am home now, still wearing my black dress and tights, I should change because my dress is getting wrinkled as I write from under my covers, but I don't care and I'm too tired to move.

Last night Lauren thankfully did not snore because she bought breathe right strips just for me! We had a laugh about that. It really works! After the wake we came home and were all a little punchy. We sat around our tiny but cute kitchen and snacked on foods that the neighbors brought. Then at midnight my sister pulled out her old clarinet and began honking away on it. I thought my parents who were in the next room were going to yell at us for goofing off so late, but they didn't. She scared the dog something awful with all her honking and it was hilarious! Then in the middle of the night, Lily (the dog) jumped on us. All 85lbs, of her. We scrambled to push her off the bed and I felt bad, because she just wanted to be close to us, but as it was the two of us are almost cramped in this bed together.

Today has been a very long day. The funeral and family lunch to follow was long. But it was good to be together. My grandfather was in the Navy and so seeing my grandmother receive the American flag properly folded into a tight triangle on behalf of the Secretary of State for his service was pretty emotional. They also had bagpipes playing Amazing Grace and at that point, I couldn't keep it together anymore.

A strange thing, death. How it's a part of life. If I can say one good thing about it, is that it reminds me to redeem the time while there is still time. And how we never really know how much time we've got.

4 comments:

Mega said...

Death isn't the end. At least thats what I believe. The timing of all of this really stinks in your life, especially it being around the holidays. Its nice that you were able to find pleasantries among the despair.

And that whole clarinet scenario sounded like it was classic and epic at the same time. Nicely done. Have a merry Christmas.

Colleen said...

Dan- I know, death isn't the end. I'm glad for that. Sometimes I think my family could be a wonderful sitcome and we wouldn't even need a laughing track =)

colleen said...

Beautifully written Colleen. Your right, funerals have such a bittersweetness to them. I hope this Christmas brings you and your family closer to the One who created us to have an EVERLASTING relationship with Him and with one another. And to The Son, who left His throne to make it happen...

Susan Skitt said...

Hurting with you...