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The Weekend...
Apr. 3rd, 2006 03:26 pmWas a bit emotional, as may be understood. Friday night I was to make potato salad- usually my mom's task, but she was going to be busy (her boss's husband died Tuesday - so yeah, it was a GREAT week) so I said I would do it. First time around I overboiled the potatoes. Yeah.. I got distracted chopping all the other stuff up and over boiled the potatoes into potato mush. Not so great for potato salad- but throw some butter, salt and sour cream and Anne had dinner! And then went to the store to get more potatoes (should I mention that it was 11 pm at this point?). The second batch worked much better- but it was still 2 am (or was it 3?) before I got to sleep.
Saturday- was better than I thought it would be. Got to my folk's place fairly early (after stopping by Gordon's for lasagna) and mom was gone- but we kept dad company and got him moving. We were supposed to be at the church at 1 and here it was 12:35 and he wasn't in his suit yet. He was quite afraid that one of his brothers would be unable to find the church. This led to a quick answering machine change (leaving my cell number in case anyone needed directions) and hustling dad out the door.
At the church we had an hour before the service- and chatted with family members, which was good- it helped. My aunt and I both nearly lost it as we explained the puzzle piece thing to my hubby. That being that Grandma always, without fail, snagged at least one puzzle piece so that at the end she would have the final pieces. Just one of those weird things about her, along with - as the pastor mentioned- the fact that she raised 9 kids and never learned to drive or wore slacks. For the actual service it was strange- as everyone was sitting on the left side of the church, except my parents and us kids. We just joined them, though we weren't sure why were sitting on that side- all became clear as my mom was the one to do the Bible readings during the service.
The thing I always hate about funerals is seeing the person laid out... I just don't like it- they're not there anymore, no one's home- I don't want to see the body, thanks. On the other hand it was kind of comforting to see her there in her red dress with the outline of white squares... That was her 'dressed up' dress, other than that it was house dresses. Heaven help you if you tried to get her into something else. For as long as I can remember Events saw her wearing her red and white dressed up dress. So it seems fitting that she'll be buried in it.
Seeing the family was really nice. Even if some of my extended cousins pronounce their last name wrong. heh. It was hard though when some asked where Alex was. Liska surprised all of us by being exceedingly social and at one point had about 4-5 kids surrounding her and all petting her. And she ENJOYED IT! She wasn't casting her eyes around looking for an escape route! So many people all in my parents house- was a bit disorienting at times. My Aunt N. and I had a strange conversation- okay, we had a conversation, that in and of itself was strange. There was a lot more laughter than there was crying, which in my mind was a very good thing.
Hubby and I were the last to leave, staying for a bit to keep the parents company and clean up. Okay, hubby pretty much did most of the washing while I picked things up and talked to my mom. So overall it wasn't too terrible a day- I'll miss Grandma quite a bit, but it was a great way to remember her life. I have more to say, but I can't remember right now what that was. I'm still kind of in an 'oh' mood... not bad, exactly, just. Oh.
Sunday was really low key. Didn't do much of anything. Which was really nice. I decided it was 'Anne makes no decisions' day- which the hubby was okay with. I actually got some cross stitch time in- for the first time in like 4 days. And watched Bill Maher's "I'm Swiss" which was absolutely hysterical!!
Now I'm at work, tired, and I go home soon. After stopping at the store for a few necessities. Oh, and it's been requested that I make more potato salad tonight. Ah well, already have all the ingredients, and two hard boiled eggs. Wouldn't be too hard to make up a small batch for the hubby.
Saturday- was better than I thought it would be. Got to my folk's place fairly early (after stopping by Gordon's for lasagna) and mom was gone- but we kept dad company and got him moving. We were supposed to be at the church at 1 and here it was 12:35 and he wasn't in his suit yet. He was quite afraid that one of his brothers would be unable to find the church. This led to a quick answering machine change (leaving my cell number in case anyone needed directions) and hustling dad out the door.
At the church we had an hour before the service- and chatted with family members, which was good- it helped. My aunt and I both nearly lost it as we explained the puzzle piece thing to my hubby. That being that Grandma always, without fail, snagged at least one puzzle piece so that at the end she would have the final pieces. Just one of those weird things about her, along with - as the pastor mentioned- the fact that she raised 9 kids and never learned to drive or wore slacks. For the actual service it was strange- as everyone was sitting on the left side of the church, except my parents and us kids. We just joined them, though we weren't sure why were sitting on that side- all became clear as my mom was the one to do the Bible readings during the service.
The thing I always hate about funerals is seeing the person laid out... I just don't like it- they're not there anymore, no one's home- I don't want to see the body, thanks. On the other hand it was kind of comforting to see her there in her red dress with the outline of white squares... That was her 'dressed up' dress, other than that it was house dresses. Heaven help you if you tried to get her into something else. For as long as I can remember Events saw her wearing her red and white dressed up dress. So it seems fitting that she'll be buried in it.
Seeing the family was really nice. Even if some of my extended cousins pronounce their last name wrong. heh. It was hard though when some asked where Alex was. Liska surprised all of us by being exceedingly social and at one point had about 4-5 kids surrounding her and all petting her. And she ENJOYED IT! She wasn't casting her eyes around looking for an escape route! So many people all in my parents house- was a bit disorienting at times. My Aunt N. and I had a strange conversation- okay, we had a conversation, that in and of itself was strange. There was a lot more laughter than there was crying, which in my mind was a very good thing.
Hubby and I were the last to leave, staying for a bit to keep the parents company and clean up. Okay, hubby pretty much did most of the washing while I picked things up and talked to my mom. So overall it wasn't too terrible a day- I'll miss Grandma quite a bit, but it was a great way to remember her life. I have more to say, but I can't remember right now what that was. I'm still kind of in an 'oh' mood... not bad, exactly, just. Oh.
Sunday was really low key. Didn't do much of anything. Which was really nice. I decided it was 'Anne makes no decisions' day- which the hubby was okay with. I actually got some cross stitch time in- for the first time in like 4 days. And watched Bill Maher's "I'm Swiss" which was absolutely hysterical!!
Now I'm at work, tired, and I go home soon. After stopping at the store for a few necessities. Oh, and it's been requested that I make more potato salad tonight. Ah well, already have all the ingredients, and two hard boiled eggs. Wouldn't be too hard to make up a small batch for the hubby.
