« how to sell things | Main | grumble, grumble, grumble. »
November 1, 2005
Coming Home 
Yesterday was Katie's Coming Home Celebration, aka, the funeral. It was held in a neighborhood church which I've always been interested in. The modest church was full, absolutely full, of mourners, and there were quite a few I recognized, either from next door, or from the neighborhood.
I managed, remarkably, to keep it together through the scripture, the reflection on Katie's life, the hellfire and brimstone, the invitation (aka, altar call). One woman close by began sobbing, and everyone around her leaned in to comfort her. And I thought that maybe I wouldn't cry.
Ever since my father's funeral, I cry at funerals. Not that I didn't before, but even in going to funerals to support someone else, I find myself sobbing uncontrollably, and people start asking if I'm okay. That, you know, is not the effect I was going for. But the last funeral I went to was for a cow-orker and friend, and I managed to cry about the appropriate amount.
So I was hopeful that I was not going to go down in Katie's friends' and family's minds as the hysterical neighbor girl. And then the minister gave the benediction and opened the casket for a viewing. I was okay until I had to walk by Katie's daughter, so upset, and Katie's husband, so upset, and I was feeling like my heart was just going to break. Katie was lying in her casket, and she looked so serene, so young.
Posted at November 1, 2005
Comments
So sorry, VJ. :( I think the funerals get so much harder the older we get.
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at November 1, 2005 7:55 AM
Oh, I'm sorry. I can tell your heart is full.
Posted by: Megan at November 1, 2005 8:47 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a hard time keeping it together at funerals. I'm actually the same way at weddings, and marathons, and graduations.....
I'm so sorry Katie is gone.
Posted by: cheesepuppet at November 1, 2005 11:26 PM
So sorry for your and your neighbors' loss, VJ.
Posted by: Fran at November 2, 2005 8:51 PM