Day 22
Today, my father and I went to Wilsons Funeral Home in Lafayette, GA. It has been the funeral home that my family has used for my grandmother, grandfather and my father’s late wife.
What are we doing there? Well, my father and I discussed making the prearrangements for his funeral. I have been by his side and my late grandfathers side when my grandmother passed. We sat together making her arrangements. Then, I was by my father’s side helping make my grandfather’s arrangements. Once more with my father and his late wife’s children when she passed.
I have to say, it was odd sitting by my father planning his services while he is alive and sitting right beside me. People say “making these arrangements is a good thing to do. It helps relieve the pressure, stress and burden from your children.” While, I do understand and believe that statement. It was still hard for me.
I did take pictures of some of the things he picked out like his casket. I will keep those pictures private. He tried to make some humor and relax the emotions by asking, “Can I lay in it now and see if it is comfortable and how I will look?”. Of course, we laughed.
Once that was completed and we left the funeral home. I could not help but to shed a few tears. As, a kid I thought my parents will live forever! But, reality of it as an adult is something different! I know the time will come.
We got home and sat on the back porch. As, we just take a moment to relax in the sun. A cardinal flies by and hides in tree on the side of the house. I’ve seen a cardinal several times since being here. But, seems like a sign.
Later, while I was making my father a bracelet. This was a new style of bracelet for me and my first time making it. I have some practice to do, but he loved it. The button on it is from his Air Force dress blues. He started going through old pictures. He would toss out some and divide others between my siblings that he wants each of us to have. Reminiscing about his younger times in life.
He hands me pictures saying “you want this one you want that one?” I’ll show you all how cool I was as a teenager! No, I did not smoke Camel cigarettes. It was a free gift sent since my father and stepmom smoked them. How encouraging for them right?
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