We held my mother's celebration of life over the weekend. It was incredibly affirming to me, and I hope to those in attendance.
My sister's in-laws, Hank and Lil were there - I had forgotten how much I like them. It had been 20 years. My husband's cousins, Susan and Phillip were there. I will never forget how much I like them. My mother's childhood best friend and her husband. My favorite HS teacher and her husband. My Atlanta best friend, my Nashville best friend. My neighbor/friend - who I grew up with. My mountain sisters. Three of Mom's nursing school friends, one with her husband. Two of three cousins, several of their kids, and even some of the kids' kids.
In all, there were about sixty people there to say goodbye to my mother. Which is impressive.
My sister and Mom's companion/partner gave heartfelt speeches, and like the court jester I am, I gave an animated speech. I ended up leaving my printed copy in Nashville, so I made the decision to memorize it, and talked my way through it many times on my drive down (I was alone - nobody should have to hear it that much). Even with practice, I left out a few chunks - but they were the weakest bits, so no regrets. I changed the ending, and it went well.
Mostly, there was just a lot of storytelling, and great meals, and laughter, and birds.
Friday evening, we decorated and set up at the event facility. It is right on Vickery Creek - a tributary into the Chattahoochee River. After we were done, my sister and I went out to look at the covered bridge and the water, and I saw this fine fellow perched in a tree:
So, yeah - I think it was pretty fine, and that the birds were in place as they should be.
Now that the ceremonial portion is complete, and the house is sold - well, I don't know what's next. I am busy with some big changes at work. I haven't decided how I feel about them, but at the same time, it doesn't matter how I feel about them, because they're in place, and that's that.
It's also my 8th anniversary at work this week, which is nuts because tempus sure does fugit.
I gave my nephew a little gift card for his 17th birthday, which is the same day. And then two days after, it's my Nashville bestie's birthday. Nothing major planned, but we'll at the very least share a meal.
I'm dealing with the post-celebration letdown. We put a lot into making it happen, and now I just feel like: Now what?
It doesn't help that I think I'm getting a cold. It could just be allergies, but I know what I know, and what I know is that it feels heavier than just allergies. The heaviness could be mental, though. What do I know?
I kind of want to do something nice that's just for me as a marker of this time. I don't know what that is yet. A tattoo seems extreme. I don't wear a lot of jewelry, a spa date is fleeting. I would consider a Jellycat stuffed animal, but that seems like something Piper would eat.
Maybe I should get some new Birkenstocks. Start this new season out on the right foot?
I'll make any excuse for a new pair of Birkenstocks.
Anyway - I just wanted to put it out there that we have essentially laid my mother to rest, emotionally. Physically, we need to make a disposition on the ashes. That we can do whenever the time comes.
More to come.
ae
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