It’s chat time again or chewing the fat

This afternoon I needed to do a catch up, not only with posts, readers whom I follow, making new blogging friends but also estimating my kilometres for my log book… How dull you all say..and yes it was.

Out of my filing cabinet I pulled out the Services I have written, to check my notes on the kilometres I have travelled to family interviews and attending Services.

This is required for taxation purposes as I am sole trader at present.

As I looked at each file, with the Order Of Service attached, I had a reflective moment. These are lives that have passed, these people whom I never knew, gone now from their families, those they loved. This is to be expected, but it just hit me this afternoon as I flicked through their stories once again, as if nothing had changed in my life, but so much had in others.

On a brighter note we just celebrated Australia Day weekend.. I know sounds odd, but Aussie Day was on Sunday, so we all get a holiday the day after. Some of my more patriotic followers wrote posts about it, I was slack, I didn’t. I have been writing and getting the Service ready for tomorrow’s burial of a 48 year old man who passed as a result of Myotonic Dystrophy.

He lived in a facility the last 8 years of his life, I write his story, along with family members. Residents from the Centre will be attending and they are releasing balloons after the Chapel Service, prior to going to the burial site.

It should be beautiful, most of them will be in wheel chairs, being helped by their carers.

Yesterday I had a mishap, not with my writing, but just a warning for those of us who whip on a pair of shoes that have a slippery sole…do not venture down concrete steps, that’s all I’m saying. Down I went like a bag of spuds. I was winded and hit my back and grazed all my elbow..yes I yelled obscenities, seemed the only proper thing to do at the time.

Haven’t caught up with my penguins (parents) the last few days, so hopefully will call in after the Service to see them. Pop has finished writing ‘his’ Eulogy and I am so proud of him, though he tells me not to go on for so long that I will bore people. Aww bless ‘im.

Ok so no boring all of you now. I say farewell, y’all hurry back now ya hear. 🙂
xx

Tick-Tock Tick-Tock update

2 days and a few hours to go my dear friends.

I have spent since Thursday, writing, re-writing and reading the Service.

Saturday morning I visited the local Health Food Shop,  I was suffering anxiety badly. My chest and diaphragm were in knots continually.  I now have a Flower Essence spray and some wonderful herbal tablets that I actually believe are working and if they are only a placebo….I’m running with it.

It took me over  two and a half hours to ask the relevant questions and 10 hours to write the Eulogy and possibly tomorrow when I read it again,  I shall tweak a few words and lines here and there.

I am so very happy though, as this afternoon I had to read it through to one of the family members (the daughter-in-law).  This was needed in case any of my scribbled notes needed any adjustment.  When I had finished, there was silence on the end of the phone. My stomach dropped. I then said that is the completion…waiting for her to say something, then she did..

“I am crying, that was so lovely. It was wonderful”. She went on to say ” I am glad that I heard it now, if I would have heard it for the first time on Wednesday, I would be a mess”.

Do you know how I felt when she said those words?  I don’t think I can even explain at this point.

So now I go over and over and read and read in the hope of memorising some of it. Hope that my legs don’t collapse under me , or I run out of the Chapel,  arms flapping in the air throwing the script to the ground yelling “I can’t… I can’t” on Wednesday.

Sorry once again for not being able to read and comment on posts, but this is so much in my head, that my muse has now gone on vacation.

Normal services (pardon that pun) will resume by Wednesday night if I’m not sitting in a corner somewhere, drink in hand.

xx

 

 

Funerals

Today I attended a Funeral.

This post will be respectful for the departed.

The Service was for a girlfriend’s mother of mine. This girlfriend and I knew each other when we were little. Our parents knew each other very well. Her mother was German, her father who passed away some years back was Czech. The daughter ‘L’ was an only child.

I picked up my ‘little penguins’ ( Mum & Dad) and we drove to the Service. The clouds had formed, the rain had started and we walked into the front room to see some of their friends and ‘L’s two children, whom I hadn’t seen for possibly 20 years.

‘L’ and her husband ‘C’ were greeting everyone. I hadn’t seen ‘L’ for 8 or so years…we just lost touch as in life we sometimes do.

As we saw each other and walked towards each other …there were no words, her face showed her feelings, her teary and bloodshot eyes were enough…

We hugged and she cried saying “Can’t help it…it still…”

“I know darling, I know” I told her and we hugged tight.

Then it was time for the Service and we took our seats, mum and pop sat next to me.

‘L’s mum was lain in the coffin in front of the room, adorned with beautiful pink roses and a photo of when she was younger.

The Ceremony began and on the large screen in front of us ‘L’s mum and a picture of her were displayed.

A favourite song was played by Marlene Dietrich. I didn’t understand the words as she sung in German, but it was tearful.

Her children then stood up and tried so valiantly to give their Eulogies. The daughter was unable to through grief. Her brother took over and though struggled talked about his ‘Babicka’ or Babi. Czech for Grandmother.

‘L’ couldn’t say words…stand up and tell how she felt about her mother..we all understood… I felt for her…how can anyone in grief talk about their lost loved one..

The Service was conducted by a beautiful woman who read eloquently, elegantly & with feeling..giving this person whom she never knew the respect that she deserved.

Photos of ‘L’s mum then came on the big screen with music playing in the background.

We  were asked to stand for those that were able & recite the Lords Prayer & as we stood & watched & remembered this fine lady with the music of a lilted piano my tears flowed…

Photos of her as a child, photos of her husband, photos of her and ‘L’ and with her granchildren..

The sun then shone…

The Service ended and my ‘little penguins’ were standing to the side of me. I turned and tears were flowing from my Pop & Mum.

“She was a good friend , we knew her for a long time”, my Pop said struggling..

That made me cry even more, I hugged him tight…and wept

Her coffin was wheeled away….

My tears were also for ‘my penguins’… life’s circle is a known it’s when the circle finally joins up is the unknown…..

We went into the front room for a cup of tea and to all take a deep breath… I sat next to a woman I didn’t know who was 99 years young.

She said “You know Funerals have changed so much since I was younger, in those days the Service was at home, the deceased lay in the coffin in the Parlour and after words were said it would just be taken away for the burial..I remember my father had that”.

It took all my strength not to cry again, this elderly woman who has seen so much in her life time,  remembering her father that way..

‘L’s mum is in the Arms of the Angels now…to rest with her husband…

R.I.P Lotte