Today, I attended the funeral of my neighbor Dic Wells. Mr Wells was 88 years old. I wasn't really sad for him as much as I was sad for his widow, Eunice. I cannot imagine being married for 65 years and then losing my spouse. It's just more than I can wrap my brain around. I was sad because I imagined what I would feel like if I lost Mark now, after 7 1/2 years) and the grief was overpowering. And yet, Eunice was remarkably well composed, all things considered.
The funeral was at a church one mile from my house, on my street. There are sidewalks on both sides of the road. It was sunny and relatively warm, so I made the decision to walk to the funeral. Partially because it was a beautiful day, partially because it gave me an excuse to walk and get more steps on my pedometer, and partially because by walking I could be excused from going to the cemetary. One regret - wearing heels, oh well. It was so nice. I was able to walk and pray and think enroute to the church - I prayed 4 decades of a rosary, and on the way home I completed the rosary. I thought of Mr Wells, of his wife/widow Eunice, of how his passing will change the landscape of the little block of houses around me. Mr Wells is my second neighbor to die in 3 years. Helen passed 3 years ago, and her house just sold 2 months ago to a young man. Now Mr Wells has passed, I wonder what will become of Eunice and the house. I hope we get a good neighbor. I hope there are children, or at least not crumedgeons. I hope whoever is there gets along well with us and with Jim and Frances.
After I got home and collected Paul from the baby-sitter, I baked a blueberry pound cake in 3 loaf pans and delivered one loaf to Eunice and her family. The second loaf went to my parents and the third loaf remains in my kitchen.
I managed to take the crib down from Christmas visitors as well. Now to get the shelf moved from my room into the guest room closet before Mark gets back from Texas.
So much to do... so little time. And realizing that even with 65 years of marriage, Dic and Eunice still felt like there was too little time.... must take advantage of the moment. Remember what is important. Mark. Paul. My parents. My sisters. My larger family.
