To be honest, I had mixed emotions about going. It was a beautiful afternoon...abundant sunshine with Carolina blue skies, mid-70's with low humidity...you couldn't ask for more perfect weather for an outdoor function. But, I still have a difficult time in making that drive, even after 10 months...and even after some "practice" in the past few weeks. My neurologist's office is in the building across the street from the Hospice Home entrance, and I feel this heavy weight on my shoulders whenever I've had to keep an appointment with him. Well, heavier than if I was just bothered by having to keep an appointment with a neurologist about my back, shall we say?
Anyway, I could feel the lump coming into my throat as we pulled into the parking lot. Now, where is my little purse pack of tissues when I need it?
We were met by a staff person carrying a basket of daisies, and we each took one. Then we joined the small crowd gathered at the beginning of the walk, located to the right of the front entrance to the building. Thom Gill, the talented volunteer who played guitar and sang softly in the center of the facility (where the two main halls intersect), was playing and singing...and I was so happy to see him again. We greeted the sweet, gentle chaplain, who was there to give the Invocation, the Rev. Jeanette Robertson, and she remembered visiting Momma when I pointed out the window to "her" room. It made me feel surrounded by love again.
We could see a daisy here-and-there, that a loved one had tucked in the join on a tribute brick in the path...but I really didn't begin to look for Momma's name until we were inside the walled Serenity Garden, which is located at the end of the path and just outside of the Chapel. Somehow, I just knew her brick would be in there. And...it was. As I posted to Facebook when I checked in, "Momma's brick is front-and-center in the garden. She'd be pleased."
And I do believe she would be.
No comments:
Post a Comment