Funeral, Etc.

Dear Grammie,

Your funeral was yesterday. It was a nice funeral. There weren't as many people there as I expected, which really surprised me. I know you were very well-liked by many people and to see the Church so empty really puzzled me. The only things I can think of as reasons is that you were 80 when you died and that perhaps you had out-lived a lot of them and second is that the Church is pretty big. Maybe it just looked empty because people were spread out all over. Heck, maybe even the fact it was a Monday and a work day contributed, but I certainly would've done whatever was necessary to get off work.

I did a reading from the Bible. I'm not normally a really religious person, as you know, but I thought you would like it if I did a reading. I've never been up there on the podium before and I was a little nervous. There were a lot of things to remember - proper times to bow, and to pause and how and when to regard the congregation. It's sort of a blur in my mind now, but after the service I received a lot of compliments. A few people said I should read regularly. I think that means I'd have to go to Church every Sunday and you know I think Church is boring. Sorry, Gram.

After the little luncheon thing, we were going to drive to Melrose to bury you. Kaboodle and I left the luncheon early to gas up the truck and get your little dog ready for the ride. We hurried, but the buggers left without us! Can you believe that? Not even a phone call! It's okay though, because doing 100 mph on the Interstate for two miles caught us up nicely. Dangerous, yes, but I didn't want to get to the cemetery and have everyone be gone already.

Oh, the cemetery. It had been raining all day and the mosquitos were awful. I don't know if they were so excited to actually have living humans to feast on or what, but they were just swarming us all. It didn't help that it was now dusk. Some guy said some words and then we all shook holy water on your casket. Your sister had a tough time, but I helped her. They lowered you down after sealing your casket inside a...well...I don't really know what it was. Some kind of sarcophagus or something. It had your name and the dates on a metal plate on it and it sealed up tight. It looked metal, but I wasn't going to go over there and plink it or anything. Pretty sure my Mom would've freaked out if I did that. Your little dog was a very good girl. She let people pet her and she cheered up Auntie, which was good because I kind of thought she was going to have hysterics.

I must say, Grammie, it was really, really weird seeing you in that box. They locked you in. Well, maybe that's locking people out. I don't know. I suppose there's a good reason for it, but I don't know what it is. Foil grave robbers? Do people still do that?

I was a pall-bearer for you. You were heavy, Grammie. Well, okay, not you specifically, but your casket. You remember those big stone pillars flanking the start of the main aisle in Church? Yeah, try to get six fat people and a huge box by those unscathed. Not gonna happen. Your box was okay, but we were all squished. Wrecked the buttons on M.A.'s suit. At least you rode in style, though, right?

It rained when they brought your box into the Church and it rained again when they brought it out. I almost lost it then, on the way to the hearse. The gray sky, the rain, the places so full of memories, and you in that box. I mean, I know you're not really in there, it's just your body, but still. Anyway, we saw you into the hearse and later, into your grave.

As I lay in bed later, listening to the rain fall on the roof, I thought about your body laying under all that wet earth in the cold night. I miss you, Grammie. I miss you so damn much. I miss talking to you and telling you things, which is why I'm writing these letters. Oh, which reminds me. Do you know what they are doing with your furniture?! Putting it on Craigslist! Really. I'm not kidding. I'm so mad I could...I don't know...spit? Seriously, I'm way mad. I just want to crack some heads together.

Okay, I suppose I should sign off for now, Grammie. I've got a bunch of work that needs doing. One can only procrastinate for so long before the deadline arrives and it's panic-city. Besides, I'm kind of a perfectionist about my work, as you know. Talk to you soon!


Love you always,
Kit