It was for a friend's mom.
This friend is in my Circle. She was one of the first members.
Her dad's funeral was 5 1/2 months ago.
Yes, really.
It was a nice service, where their mom (of 5) was honored and remembered and celebrated.
When I read the email giving the details of the service, nothing particular stood out. I can be so dense.
Or maybe it's that the part of my brain that should notice these kind of things has just had more than enough and refused to work any longer.
I don't blame it.
Anyway, the service was being held at our local funeral home yesterday morning and there was a luncheon afterward, at the mom's home, which isn't far from mine.
I was half way to the funeral home, trying to figure out where the entrance would be, when my brain finally clicked on. I have been to this funeral home before. Only once.
I don't remember driving to it that day. I don't remember leaving it. But I do remember sitting there for a very long time, making decisions and all of us working on Jim's obituary.
See? I find it very strange that my brain did not hit on that when I first read the email.
Five years down the road, and yet I felt as if I were going to have a heart attack as I continued driving. My mind was racing ...... remembering, balking at the thought of walking in there again, panicking at the chance of breaking down and not being able to go in.
I did not calm down until I walked into the chapel, a room I had never seen before.
And then I saw my Circle. Well, about 6 of them. One row was full so I looked for another friend and found her, sitting alone. I joined her.
Her husband died less than 2 years ago and the last time she was in this place was at his memorial .... in that chapel.
She could not hold back the tears.
And then neither could I.
But I'm proud of both of us. Neither of us broke down.
We just wiped our tears and listened to the service.
Then I went with the rest of the Circle to the cemetery, where I had never been. I saw the grave of a friend's wife not far from the grave where we stood.
I know a lot of people who's spouses are there.
But only since Jim died.
Which is kind of scary.
We all went to the luncheon afterward and hung out and talked and laughed with our friend and her siblings.
Her parents lived a long and good life.
They have 5 great kids. And lots of grandkids.
And I felt happy for their mom because she only had to wait 5 1/2 months to see her husband again.
She's in a good place.
A fabulous place.
A place I will be thrilled to enter when it's my time.
I hope my children and my friends will remember that, when that time comes.
I've had a great life, aside from the last 5 years.
My kids are great.
The friends I have are great.
But when it's time ..... I'll be happy. And I'll be great.
Not afraid. Not worried.
But great.
And I think that's great.
Happy Thursday, Peeps.
I'm heading to L.A.
:)
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