This Thanksgiving has been one that will stand out in my memory for many years to come. Last Thursday, Mom called after 10 p.m. As you may expect, it was not a call of good news. Granny had fallen and broken her hip about a week prior. She had had surgery on Tuesday the 18th, and she had just returned to the nursing home in Winamac, IN earlier the evening of the 20th. However, her lungs had taken on fluid, and she passed later that night just under a month after her 98th birthday.
With the funeral set for the 26th and the viewing on the 25th, we made our travel plans. We set out on the 22nd for Hot Springs Village to break up the drive from DFW and to spend a couple of days with Christy's parents. We had a quick, but nice two day visit with them before leaving for Winamac the morning of the 24th.
We arrived at Mom's around 9:30 that night. Weary from the road, we did little more than walk the dogs and go to bed.
Many of you know that Christy plays the clarinet, but she did not bring hers with us on the trip. Mom had forgotten to mention it before we left, but it was obvious to Christy that having some special music at the funeral would mean a lot to Mom. She made a few calls, and found a place to rent a clarinet a couple of towns away. We made a 45 minute drive through the snow covered countryside to Plymouth where we rented a clarinet from a friend of my stepfather, Bill. Christy played three pieces at the funeral, and she played in top form. I was glad that she was able to do something special for Mom. You only hold a funeral for someone once.
The Pastor from the Lutheran Church in Rochester officiated the funeral services, and he gave a fine sermon. It centered on the question, "What happens when you die?" He used many passages of comfort from the gospel to assure the family that Granny was now in heaven. However, he also made it clear that unbelievers have no such comfort. It was an excellent balance of law and gospel.
Later that afternoon, Christy planned Thanksgiving dinner with Mom. While she and Mom went to the store, Bill and I took the clarinet back to Plymouth. Many thanks to Bill and Janice Wagoner of
Wagoner's Music Shop. Although they had stopped doing rentals years ago, they made an exception for us.
The next day, Christy cooked a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner for us as Mom was ill and fairly worn down from the events of the past week. We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and many other great dishes. For two days in a row, Christy made Mom's day (and mine).
Today, we left after lunch, and we've stopped in St. Louis for the night. We'll make the rest of the trip tomorrow. Kassie and Rocket (our dogs for those who don't know them) are spending their first night in a "people hotel". It will have been quite a week, but it is one that we will all remember for a long time to come.
Granny had lived what all would consider to be a full life. She had just celebrated her 98th birthday on October 27. We will miss her greatly, but we also take comfort in knowing that we will see her again in heaven.
Until next time...
PH
