Oh, the Excitement of Funerals!

When I hugged Alec goodbye the other day, I commented that he'd be as tall as I am when I saw him next. He said, "Oh, no. We'll be back before that." "Yeah," added Eric, who was standing nearby. "We have to come back for Aunt Angie's funeral," he finished up, with a grin of excitement at the prospect of returning soon. I just about screamed that I couldn't believe what I had just heard! Of course, they are so young (8 and 10) that they really have no idea what they're talking about and how dreadful it will be for all of us when Angie does pass away. Well, I'm glad at least that they would be happy to come back as that shows that they have a good time here.

I remember Uncle Johnny's funeral as the first one I went to. I never knew who he was till he died. I remember wondering who that old man in the casket was and how it could be possible that I'd never known him if he was related to us. It never occurred to me that he was Jo Beisler's father or Aunt Gin's husband. I remember the hat he had over his hands. They say they put a deck of cards under there!

When I hugged Alec goodbye the other day, I commented that he'd be as tall as I am when I saw him next. He said, "Oh, no. We'll be back before that." "Yeah," added Eric, who was standing nearby. "We have to come back for Aunt Angie's funeral," he finished up, with a grin of excitement at the prospect of returning soon. I just about screamed that I couldn't believe what I had just heard! Of course, they are so young (8 and 10) that they really have no idea what they're talking about and how dreadful it will be for all of us when Angie does pass away. Well, I'm glad at least that they would be happy to come back as that shows that they have a good time here.

I remember Uncle Johnny's funeral as the first one I went to. I never knew who he was till he died. I remember wondering who that old man in the casket was and how it could be possible that I'd never known him if he was related to us. It never occurred to me that he was Joe Beisler's father or Aunt Gin's husband. I remember the hat he had over his hands. They say they put a deck of cards under there!

Growing up caticorner to the funeral home, it was a strange event when we actually went in there. Well, other than to collect the paper bill and then we always used the office door. I think the next time I went in the front door was when Grandma Beisler died. I was nine years old. I remember not fully comprehending what death meant. What does that mean? As if I comprehend it now that I'm older! I mean that I didn't fully understand all the implications or even understand it enough to have seen it coming. I guess I had thought Grandma would live for ever. She just was and then suddenly she wasn't. I don't remember much about that funeral home visit or the funeral or anything. Odd. Nor with Uncle Preacher. Surely not because it wasn't important to me, but, then, I don't remember being overcome with grief either. Sometimes I think I feel a lot more grief about such things now. I know this must be what it's like for Alec and Eric with Eddie. And even with Gina, their own mother. With the one, they didn't think much about his existence till he died and with they other, they think don't think much about her existence because they think she'll live forever. And with Angie...it would be just an excuse to get together and have a party. Like it was with Grandma Klein's funeral.