Moving On

It was another rough week last week, but it wasn't without its good points.

Last week, I was down in L.A. to help my dad with my grandmother's house and to attend the memorial service for her. Can I tell you how weird it was to be in her house and going through her things without her being there? (I'm sure some of you have encountered this by now.) My dad and I were reminiscing about her as we went through the place. A piece of jewelry might spark a memory that she wore that particular piece every Christmas. The same with her scarves and handkerchiefs, of which she had, apparently, zillions. (She was a proper European woman, after all, and had to be accessorized appropriately!)

The memorial was Saturday, and went very well. My dad said it was a shame that more of her friends couldn't attend, but she'd simply outlived all of them! One of the down sides to passing at 104 1/2, I guess. Some of my friends attended and paid their respects, because they had known her and spent time with her at least once a month when I was still living there. They had come to love her, too, which was, in retrospect, pretty cool. Some of my dad's friends came, too, as well as my brother and his wife.

The bulk of women who had been her caregivers over the last ten years attended, as well, with a few of their family members who had come to know her. It was very sweet and touching to see them all there, and I made sure to thank every single one of them for everything they had done for Oma. It's not easy to care for someone who's senile, yet they did, and they loved her, too!

My dad put together a pretty amazing history of her life, much of which I had no idea! Maybe I'll get a copy of the slide show and post it, maybe not. But you can imagine what a life she must have had in 104 years! Travel and adversity, good times and bad, she just plowed through without whining about it. I said a few words (not without blubbering, unfortunately), the pastor said some lovely things, too. All in all, it went very well. 

Mr. ShellHawk, a veteran of many of these occasions, has been a rock through this. I'm so grateful for him, his advice and his loving understanding. I don't know how I would have gotten through all of this without him.

Anyway, that's done. I continue to miss her and grieve for her, as one would expect. Next week, I get the screw out of my foot and get the same surgery on the other foot, so this week is being spent prepping for that. Hopefully, I'll get in some studio time before I have to resign myself to living on the couch for the next few weeks.

Onwards, eh?