Tuesday

So on Tuesday, I journeyed out to Carrot River for the funeral of my gramma. It was a lovely service and an appropriate time of saying goodbye. I didn’t realize that there was so much ‘choreography’ associated with funerals. The family all had to go downstairs, then we got lined up in a specific order, then seated in specific places. I got to sit right at the front on the left hand side because I was asked to read the scripture. My cousin Cindy was supposed to join me in doing that, but she said if she got up in front of so many people that she would probably pass out! So I did it. I sat there feeling sick to my stomach with nervousness and trying my best not to cry. I know it’s okay to cry at a funeral, but it was a pretty long Psalm that I had to read, and I didn’t want to be up there any longer than I had to be. But I managed to steady my voice and made it through. Later my aunt Margaret told me that the Psalm that I had read (Psalm 103) was one that she read to gramma just before she died.

I got to see many aunts and uncles and cousins that I have not seen in years! There were actually 2 of my cousins there that I had NEVER met! Gramma had 28 grandchildren and who knows how many great grandchildren. It was good to see those cousins again, though it’s too bad it couldn’t have been under better circumstances. Seeing all of gramma’s children (there are 8 left of 11) with their spouses, her grandchildren and most of their spouses, and greatgrandchildren (some of which are also married) I just think of what a great heritage that is. Looking at that room of about 70 people, thinking that they all were there to celebrate the life of a woman who touched them all in such different ways, I know gramma was definitely smiling down on us from heaven.