Memorial Day

Today I went with family to the Paul Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day pilgrimage.  My grandma, her sisters, and their daughters organize and bring all the flowers.  We visit every grave and place the lovely chrysanthemums in a variety of colors on and around the head stones.  The older generations (three were represented) talk about the people we visit.  It's a great family history lesson.  We visit many people - most of whom I'd never met.  But I like hearing about them and their stories.  It creates a connection, a shared history.  I like this bond.

Staying here at my parents' house these last two months has been wonderful.  I'm spending a lot of time just talking and hanging out.  I really had no idea how much I missed this!  So I may be waiting endlessly to hear about benefits or Plan B, finding some kind of job I can do, but in the meantime I'm doing something important - reconnecting with the people I love most.  I'm so completely grateful.

PS We got talking about what we want when we die.  My mom wants to be cremated, but still wants a head stone so we will put flowers on it.  For the record, I want to be cremated and scattered in the Pacific Ocean.  I wanted my ashes placed in a coffee can ala Donny on The Big Lebowski, but my sister nearly cried and asked if they could use a piece of her pottery.  So yeah, do that.