And now she’s really gone – we had the thanksgiving service last weekend, and the cremation yesterday…
The service was wonderful… a gloriously cold, crisp, sunny day, the little cotherstone church was packed to the rafters, the sun shone through the stained glass windows onto the flowers, the tributes were wonderful and everyone sang lustily – particularly the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which mum had requested to see her out (we kept only the first verse, sis writing a second one that was more appropriate to the occasion) – who knew that the wonderful village organist could give so rousing a rendition? and then the house bursting at the seams with villagers and friends from all points for tea and sandwiches and stronger libations, dwindling down to the core group and way too much whisky late into the night. It was a fitting send-off – I think she would have thoroughly enjoyed it… the cremation was much harder, but just family, so keeping it together wasn’t so important. and so it is done.
We’ve had family and friends around all week, which has been hugely helpful… next week, when they’re all gone and it’s just me and sis trying to figure out what to do with all this – and the future – then the really hard part begins…. but step by step… I’m probably going to sign off from this for now… I’ll be in touch…