Funeral
Dear Robot Mom-in-law passed away last week. I got back from the homestead on Tuesday night while Mrs. Robot stayed down there to take care of business as you have to do.
Wedding?
My brother and his family drove up for the funeral. That was really sweet of them. He brought his two kids (AKA robot niece and nephew) (and his wife) and it was great to see them again even though we had seen them recently. They do like their Uncle Robot.
Here’s the funny thing:
(1) They are young
(2) I don’t think the concept of a funeral was really described to them
(3) Their parents kind of kept them in the back of the church during the whole service
So, keeping in mind those points, I only recently realized the meaning behind some odd comments they made to me about getting married to Mrs. Robot and if I was embarrassed to kiss her in front of people. Did they think the funeral was our wedding?
I think they did. I look forward to discussing this in 15 years when they talk about going to my wedding (“no, that was a funeral”).
I think they thought it was a wedding (in kids brains: (suits + church + crying) = wedding or funeral).
[UPDATE: Sister-in-law disagrees with me on this one as she did brief them that they were going to a funeral]
Organized
Thank Jeebus that mom-in-law was pretty organized and that she had foreseen her death (somewhat). Most everything was taken care of.
It breaks my heart to think of what other people would have to go through when a loved one passes away either very suddenly or when they are totally unorganized. Yow.
Take away: Ask your loved ones to keep things organized.
FUNeral
Once again, funerals are odd because there is that crazy contrast.
“Oh, I am so sad!”
“Oh, I’m laughing because there is cousin Joe who does that thing!”
Some of our pals came up/down for the funeral, including the lovely KMAC who wins the award for “Most Helpful Person Who Went Through Our Underwear Drawer”. It was nice. We sat out on the deck and reminisced and/or went on rides in the family golf cart (6yr old niece: best driver).
Received
We did the receiving line thing in front of the church. 300+ showed up. I said, “I’m Mrs. Robot’s husband” about 300+ times. I learned a lot about my mom-in-law. She did some awesome stuff.
Buy me a drink and I’ll tell you everything.
Taps Mom-in-law was a friggin Marine. How cool is that? Is your mom-in-law a Marine?
Didn’t think so.
She had a full military funeral with the flag on the casket and a little group of (female) Marines who came out and did the flag folding thing and then played taps. Guess why the Marine who was playing ‘taps’ was standing so far away? C’mon! Guess!
You’re right. She was “playing” to a recording. Apparently there is a shortage of people who can play taps.
Obamas
Mrs. Robot said that during the actual graveside part of the service, the time she really choked up was when the Marine presented the folded flag to her father and said, “on behalf of President Barack Obama, yadda yadda yadda”. She was like, “Obama said that?! Waaaah”.
Taps
Speaking of taps. I have a crazy thing for the armed forces. I mean, not a sexy crazy thing, but more of a “I’ll tear up watching a beer commercial about a military guy in the airport being saluted by an old man” crazy thing. I don’t know why, but they make me crazy sentimental for some reason. That said, I feared that when they played taps, I’d start blubbering. I didn’t. I’ll blame it on the recording.
I think I feared it would be like that Christmas/funeral episode of the West Wing. Crikey.
Memorial Fund
Carolina Cancer Service, 25 West 6th Avenue, Lexington, NC 27292.
Mom-in-law was a friggin Marine. How cool is that? Is your mom-in-law a Marine?
