Larry is not allowed on countertops or the dining room table. But he’s figured out the old washer is fair game. He’s going to be very disappointed when the contractor finally gets it repaired and in the laundry room.
The first thing I had to do on Wednesday morning while I waited for people to wake up was clean up the house plants and put them back in the windows.
Once the dining room table was clean again, I started prepping for the funeral. I found a pretty dish and cut springs of rosemary. I made a pretty pink ribbon bow for the bottom of the card.
Me and my youngest brother Credit: Tom
I’d called my sister in law because my brother said she was handling the reception. Fortunately they were nearly to my house because she didn’t know she was in charge. I told her to stop here and we’d all go to the restaurant and set up the reception before heading to the funeral at 11AM.
We had exactly enough time to set up and get to the cemetery on time.
Credit: Tom
My youngest brother’s daughter read a poem she created with AI. My aunt spoke of things my mom had said on the visit that ended in the hospital. I read a piece I’d written about the Christmas music, doing windows, things she’d have us do at Christmas, an origami crane my helper friend had made her, and conversations.
My youngest brother read something my oldest brother had written about taking my mom on rides and her love of ice cream. My youngest brother also spoke of things he remembered her saying and doing.
People stood around and visited each other for a while. One person who came to support me was my husband’s aunt. I was surprised to see her, but very grateful. Tom and his daughter, #2 intern, were also there for me.
Credit: Tom
Eventually we mostly all went over to the reception. My aunt had made tomato soup cake with butter cream frosting, and my brother and his daughter had made a double batch of lemon squares. These were 2 of my mom’s favorites.
The restaurant had made a nice buffet spread. We all visited for several hours. Then everyone filled take out dishes with the remaining food and desserts.
Because there were 3 of us, we ended up with a lot of food! My middle brother and his wife came to my house after for a garden and house tour. They had brought a box of my paternal grandmother’s costume jewelry and we went through it picking pieces we wanted.
There was this lacquered box full of pieces. It was emptied as things were sorted.
I took a few things. I don’t know if I will ever wear them, but they are interesting to me.
They left about 5:30PM and we all munched on leftovers. I was in bed by 8PM, totally exhausted.
On Thursday my helper friend comes at noon for 5 hours. I hope to get a good amount done in the Big garden. In the morning I will be working on back posts, trying to get caught up.