Friday, August 9, 2013

We'll Make It


Well, last night was nothing short of a miracle. 

I went shopping for the food for my mother's funeral, somehow managing to not be brought to my knees by the lamentful aching supermarket elevator music, the kind that's all slowly swelling strings that seem to stretch on forever. As if that wasn't enough, I already could barely see out of my teary eyes because everything on the shelves had me saying "My mother loved watermelon. My mother loved caramels. My mother loved chocolate cake," when I kept running into everyone I know asking me, "How is your mother?" 

But I did it, I got it all done, and only the sheer determination of pulling together a party for my mother of cake and ice cream and pink roses that she will never forget, pulled me through.

And today, we have my mother's funeral. I'll be delivering the eulogy. My oldest boy will be doing the first reading, and my middle boy and littlest will bring up the offerings.

This week has been a mad rush of planning activity, and society's rituals keep you distracted in the days so immediate after a death, that you have a bit of a period of putting off the inevitable -- that of seeing what life is like without them.

I know my family and I will make it through tomorrow's service, and the reception afterward, where people will tell us a bit about our mother, share their stories, while we smile and say Thank You. 

That'll be the easy part. It's in the days that will follow, after our frenzied pace has passed, that we'll feel ourselves bone weary and looking at the thousands of steps before us that we now have to take, without them.
 
 
 *So many heartfelt thanks to all of you, for your kind messages, emails, phone calls, cards, FB check-ins, and beautiful tweets. You have become my community, my support. And I am grateful. xo
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35 comments:

  1. Blessings to you and yours.

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  2. i will be praying for you as you go to the service...remember her for who she was to you and others...hugs

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  3. So much love and strength and light to you. xoxo

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  4. Oh my sweet, sweet friend! I have been out of the blog loop again and I was thinking about you today and pulled this up. I am so sorry for your loss. My heart cries for you and your family. Your mother was a beautiful soul. I'm praying for you and thinking of you today.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Holding you in the light.

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  6. Oh, Alexandra. I am so SO very sorry to hear this. My heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family. I was always so touched whenever you spoke of your mother--she was a beautiful, sweet, kind soul.

    So much love and prayers are coming out your way, Alexandra. XOXO

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  7. My heart goes out to you. Love and support from here. xo

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  8. Thinking of you. You're so strong.
    <3 Hang in there.

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  9. So glad that I was able to see you today and give you a huge hug. I have been thinking of you. xoxo Jen

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  10. Been thinking of you and your family, Alexandra.

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  11. Hang in there. I bet that eulogy will be beautiful.

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  12. Sorry to hear, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself.

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  13. My heart goes out to your family. Thinking of you.

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  14. Everyone at the funeral will feel your love and your mother's life and leave better for the experience. So sorry for this loss...xoxox

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  15. Your mother is your inspiration, she'll get through the rough stuff.

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  16. Watermelon. Caramels. Chocolate cake.

    All the sweetness to you, in her memory.

    So much love and beauty there.

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  17. My condolences to you and your family. I know that your eulogy will be a sweet tribute to the mother that you so obviously adored.

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  18. You have shown us such beauty as you say goodbye. I only hope I can find your grace when I face a love's final days. Love to you. Peace and hope and chocolate cake.

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  19. Oh Honey, My deepest sympathy to you. I know the feelings and know there are no words. I'll be thinking of you today in the 'after', and wish you a peaceful and quiet heart.

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  20. I can't belIeve you're taking the time to post these words in the midst of all this, then again, that's who you are. I hope the service is beautiful and your entire family draws strength from each other as you pay respects to your mother and the full life she led. It's true that it will be a blur and that the tough days are to come, when the numbness fades and the contrast between "normalcy" and the extreme loss you feel is so stark. Day by day, you'll get through, but know we're here for you, and thinking of you constantly.

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  21. Alexandra I am thinking of you, praying for you, and honored to have been along for your experience of love and loss.

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  22. Hi Alexandra-I'm so sorry. Through your blog, I know that family is everything to you. Thinking of you and your family and hoping the days ahead will bring many happy memories for each tear you cry.

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  23. Oh Alexandra. I'm just reading back to before BlogHer. -so moved, so very moved. And so very sorry for your loss. The record of your last days with your mother brings me to tears. Out of the blue was thinking of you today and tweeted a link. Maybe we really are telepathic creatures. With love and a great big hug.

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  24. Ah, heck everyone, I am exhausted. I slept in my black dress Friday night and today, was on the sofa, taking two naps. I'm up now, and changed. I did take myself for ice cream, because I couldn't think of anything else to do. I sat and licked the chocolate off the sides, and as the tear drops fell into the mix, I thought, This doesn't taste that bad, with a little salt mixed in.

    THANK YOU so much for your love. Your support has kept this from feeling lonely, isolated, screaming into the wind. THANK YOU. You are the BEST.

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  25. I've been thinking of you, my sweet friend, and just wanted you to know. You are amazing.

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  26. --I send you my heart from Minnesota & prayers & an abundance of love and understanding.

    ps. I SO understand this: "lamentful aching supermarket elevator music, the kind that's all slowly swelling strings that seem to stretch on forever"

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  27. Thinking of you each day, Alexandra...and wishing you strength to take those many many steps before you after this weekend. We are here for you.

    xoxo

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  28. Alexandra you are in my thoughts and prayers! Sending much love to you and your family. xo

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  29. I know the funeral was beautiful, just like your relationship with your dear mom.

    As always, sending healing love and prayers to you all. (((Hugs)))

    XOXO
    Anna

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  30. I'm thinking of you as you go through this time.

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  31. Thank you, everyone. I truly mean it when I tell you that your comments here and on FB, and tweets, and emails, mean so much. To make someone feel less alone, and to have your love felt by that person, is no small thing. THANK YOU.

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  32. Thinking of you and all those who knew and loved your mother as you all try to get thru the days and nights.

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