69 Diana's Memorial Service and Uncle Kenneth's Passing

In February 2009 I went to Diana's memorial service. Her daughter sang "Amazing Grace" during the service and I was blown away by the purity and beauty of her voice. Diana's husband read a moving tribute. His voice broke somewhere near the end and you could hear the increased rate of sniffles (including my own) in the large assembly of family, friends and co-workers. It was hard to go, but I'm glad I went.

My beloved survivor bracelet broke two days before the service and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get it fixed in time for the service. A new piece of history in the survivor bracelet saga... I took it to the local jewler to be restrung. The girl behind the counter started to estimate which day it would be ready. I told her that I needed it in a few hours for the memorial of the woman who gave it to me. I think she actually gulped.

I had strung it back onto the original wire at home and had carefully brought it intact into the jewelry store, but one end slipped out of the jewerly store lady's fingers and beads scattered everywhere.

I reassembled the beads into the order I wanted for the second time that day while Guy kept Kelric from breaking anything in the store, and then we left to run errands. When I returned as my last stop before driving to the memorial service, she gave me the beautifully restrung bracelet with every bead cleaned (and almost in the same order I had left it). No charge, she said. Tears welled up and I struggled not to cry.

That evening I learned via e-mail that my Great Uncle Kenneth Weaver had passed away from Lymphoma just the day before. Cancer is such a pervasive disease. I hate it.

So I attended Diana's service in Round Rock on a Saturday where I was pleased to see many friendly ex-co-workers one more time. Then on Sunday my mom and I drove to Caldwell for the viewing of my uncle's body. I opted for the viewing over the funeral because I could still pay my respects but have a longer time with fewer tears to visit my cousins. It was wonderful to see them again. They assured me that my uncle had been in quite a bit of discomfort for some time due to his cancer, and that his passing was a blessing. I believe he was in his eighties.

My mom had broken her wrist and wouldn't have been able to drive from Austin to Caldwell on her own, so I was glad that I was in a position to take her. Showing uncharateristic wisdom, we left 2-year-old Kelric home with Daddy.

Kelric still struggles to come to terms with the loss of our dog Wendy. He doesn't understand what cremation means and remains puzzled at how Wendy can fit in the wooden box that we keep in the high window. We remain puzzled at how to explain to such a young child what death means.

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