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Turn Again to Life
16 years ago
Random scribblage..
Death is never an easy thing for anyone to deal with, whether it's the death of a beloved pet, friend, or family member. The bonds we form with those we care about are some of the truest defining points in our lives with the relationships we have with others. Dealing with the loss can be a long, hard felt process, & it really never is the same, even if you feel you're ready for the grim eventuality. It still hits & stings just as fresh each time.
My grandmother passed away November 13th. It was a hard decision for my family to let her go, but after a long harrowing 3 week battle there was little hope of recovery after the plateau she reached after surgery on Oct 25th/26th. I cancelled my MWFF plans due to the timing of all of this to be with family & do what I could to support & comfort/be supported & comforted with the hardship of this deep loss to our family. The process was a little stretched out due to the nature of her burial with my grandfather at the National Memorial Cemetery in D/FW. The comfort I have received & thoughts from dear friends & co-workers has meant a great deal to me & I am thankful for those whom I hold dear in my life. My grandmother was a special & dignified lady inside & out. Both she & my grandfather were something to be admired in their relationship with each other & their devotion to family & church. I can't think of a better example of civility & the epitome of their generation.
Sadly there has been other strife that came with all of this when the following day my uncle had to go to the emergency room for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop, only to be then admitted to the hospital. It was just insult to injury, but he did manage to be at the burial service on Thursday. There is still a lot to be sorted out after this, but hopefully in time things will be easier to cope with. The holidays, sadly, are feeling off to a poor start & feel a little bit dimmer, but we all are going to try & have a smile on our faces, a song in our hearts, & putting our best foot forward as Nana would have us do.
The funeral service on Tuesday was beautiful & her pastor was amazing, being quite the wordsmith with weaving his thoughts as well as those from the family together into a wonderful service that honored & gave uplifting praise for my grandmother. On Monday I was surprised by a floral arrangement that two coworkers had waiting for me when I got back from my lunch break. That was so touching & endearing. In the sanctuary during thr service the arrangement was displayed prominently next to the pulpit as the colors matched the fall colors decorating the church sanctuary.
When the arrangements were made Saturday I wanted to give help & offer my graphic services in any way I could , but my father offered up a wonderful idea of creating a memorial slideshow honoring my grandmother's life. So that evening my parents & I were busy arranging pictures & scanning so that I could organize all the needed assets. We scanned nearly or around 200 photos & my mother & I worked into the wee hours of Sunday morning. She petered off around 6am & I was up a bit later. My father woke me up at 9am to see what I had managed (little knowing how late I had been up) & with tweaking & frustrations rendering I had a nearly complete version for the Visitstion on Sunday, working till just 15 minutes prior to under the wire. I was flattered it was a highlight of the Visitation, despite some minor imperfections. It was a family affair of love & I may have had the knowledge to put it together, I couldn't have done it without the help I had & the hands working to make it happen. That entire night I've never felt so inspired & driven in quite some time, no caffeine necessary. I had several more tweaks still but the 90% complete version I showed Tuesday had everyone enraptured at the luncheon put on by the women of the church. The pastor also said a beautiful dedication prior to the showing.
So I give thanks to all my friends for their thoughts & comfort during all of this. It has meant a lot to me & my family which has been greatly appreciated.
If I should die
And leave you here awhile,
Be not like others, sore undone,
Who keep long vigils
By the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake - turn again to life and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand
To do something to comfort
Other hearts than thine.
Complete those dear
Unfinished tasks of mine
And I, perchance may therin comfort you
(First reading from the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales)
My grandmother passed away November 13th. It was a hard decision for my family to let her go, but after a long harrowing 3 week battle there was little hope of recovery after the plateau she reached after surgery on Oct 25th/26th. I cancelled my MWFF plans due to the timing of all of this to be with family & do what I could to support & comfort/be supported & comforted with the hardship of this deep loss to our family. The process was a little stretched out due to the nature of her burial with my grandfather at the National Memorial Cemetery in D/FW. The comfort I have received & thoughts from dear friends & co-workers has meant a great deal to me & I am thankful for those whom I hold dear in my life. My grandmother was a special & dignified lady inside & out. Both she & my grandfather were something to be admired in their relationship with each other & their devotion to family & church. I can't think of a better example of civility & the epitome of their generation.
Sadly there has been other strife that came with all of this when the following day my uncle had to go to the emergency room for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop, only to be then admitted to the hospital. It was just insult to injury, but he did manage to be at the burial service on Thursday. There is still a lot to be sorted out after this, but hopefully in time things will be easier to cope with. The holidays, sadly, are feeling off to a poor start & feel a little bit dimmer, but we all are going to try & have a smile on our faces, a song in our hearts, & putting our best foot forward as Nana would have us do.
The funeral service on Tuesday was beautiful & her pastor was amazing, being quite the wordsmith with weaving his thoughts as well as those from the family together into a wonderful service that honored & gave uplifting praise for my grandmother. On Monday I was surprised by a floral arrangement that two coworkers had waiting for me when I got back from my lunch break. That was so touching & endearing. In the sanctuary during thr service the arrangement was displayed prominently next to the pulpit as the colors matched the fall colors decorating the church sanctuary.
When the arrangements were made Saturday I wanted to give help & offer my graphic services in any way I could , but my father offered up a wonderful idea of creating a memorial slideshow honoring my grandmother's life. So that evening my parents & I were busy arranging pictures & scanning so that I could organize all the needed assets. We scanned nearly or around 200 photos & my mother & I worked into the wee hours of Sunday morning. She petered off around 6am & I was up a bit later. My father woke me up at 9am to see what I had managed (little knowing how late I had been up) & with tweaking & frustrations rendering I had a nearly complete version for the Visitstion on Sunday, working till just 15 minutes prior to under the wire. I was flattered it was a highlight of the Visitation, despite some minor imperfections. It was a family affair of love & I may have had the knowledge to put it together, I couldn't have done it without the help I had & the hands working to make it happen. That entire night I've never felt so inspired & driven in quite some time, no caffeine necessary. I had several more tweaks still but the 90% complete version I showed Tuesday had everyone enraptured at the luncheon put on by the women of the church. The pastor also said a beautiful dedication prior to the showing.
So I give thanks to all my friends for their thoughts & comfort during all of this. It has meant a lot to me & my family which has been greatly appreciated.
If I should die
And leave you here awhile,
Be not like others, sore undone,
Who keep long vigils
By the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake - turn again to life and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand
To do something to comfort
Other hearts than thine.
Complete those dear
Unfinished tasks of mine
And I, perchance may therin comfort you
(First reading from the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales)
Take good care.