I began today with a run. Typically, I run along the
sidewalks in my neighborhood or drive to a park to go on a run. Lately, when I
visit my parents I have been running down one of the country roads that is near
their house as I chose to do this morning.
It was overcast, humid, but windy.
The corn lined my path as the road cuts through some rather large
fields. I can’t remember the last time I
went on a run and only saw pick-up trucks drive by me. It felt great to be in the open country with
just my dog and my ipod. As I approached
the property that my grandparents own on that road, I started to cry. I thought of all the good memories that I had
with my grandma and grandpa on their farm and how that farm was no longer
theirs. You really can’t take anything
with you when you die, other than the opportunity for other people to meet you
in the flesh. The land that I ran by
this morning is in limbo, it is owned by no one person right now. In a way, like my grandmother, that land went
back to God. I really hope that her will
is very clear about how her assets will be dispersed and I hope that Clay and I
have a chance to buy that land one day.
Post-run I spent the day running errands related to getting
my child and I dressed appropriately for a funeral. I stopped and picked up some photos I had
printed for the displays that my cousin Kim and I were putting together for the
visitation. Basically we had to try to
find pictures that summarized 95 years of a very active woman’s life. What a task.
I feel like there are blocks of her life I really know nothing about,
like the time from when she was about 18-28 and the time from when she got home
from the war to when she married grandpa.
I found one picture of my sister and I dressed in her army outfit that
brought a tear to my eye. The time that
Kim and I spent with those pictures was a reminder of how much time had passed
since Heidi had died.
I imagine that tomorrow is going to be a long day. It is the 4th of July and a time
for many people to come pay their respects to my grandmother. I know from experience that I need to wear
cushioned shoes and comfortable clothes and have gum or mints ready. We probably will have to turn people away as
the funeral home closes. I have endured
two of these type of visitations in my life and, unless you have buried one of
the most popular people in your area, you have no idea how much it takes out of
you.
What a way to get back into the flow of the culture around
here.
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