I've been struggling with a new post idea. The past few days have been hard. Harder than I expected. It's true that there are times you lose someone that you didn't know you'd miss until they're gone. We went to George's wake on Thursday night. He was cremated, so aside from a few pictures, flowers, and that tiny little box, it still seems like he's just 'away'. The family extended their kindness in inviting Chris and I to the private funeral that was intended for family only the following day. They wanted us, and a few other neighbors who had "been so good to him", be there to celebrate his life with them. Needless to say we were very touched, and wouldn't have missed it.
The service yesterday was short and simple, but very nice. The hardest part for me was when the officiant said, "George left the following words", and went on to say that he'd hoped he'd be remembered for "his poor spelling, miserable disposition, loud voice, big laugh, and his tenacity to always want things done 'his' way" (paraphrased). That description described that man to a proverbial "T" and he'll definitely be remembered for all of those qualities, and more. It will be very strange walking past his curtained windows and not seeing his little gray head and his big wave as I pass. It will be unusual to not hear him roar up his big lawn mower at the most inconvenient times. It will be different not having him call Chris every other day to come over to fix his tv because he'd locked himself out with parental control settings or his Spanish menus. It just won't feel 'right' at all when his car is no longer in his parking spot, and worse yet when someone else claims his house as his or her own.
Rest in peace, dear George. The world has lost a good man...I hope Heaven has as many lobsters as you can stand eating, and that you're running freely on your favourite horse.
1 comment:
As the song as "you don't know what you got till it's gone". Some days are a harder climb than others.
La
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