Saturday, February 25, 2006

On February 17, 2006 my uncle, the one Melvin aided on our trip to the Bahamas, passed away. Today is the funeral. I dread funerals. It is not the dying that haunts me, but the sorrow of the ones who are experiencing the loss. For some reason I have been given the gift, if you can call it that, of sensing other peoples pain and sorrow and funerals are the worst. Melvin knows and understands this so he he pets, coddles and encourages me all morning. "Come on Poo, get up, get some breakfast to keep your head from hurting." I get up and play over the breakfast. "I'll take my shower first and get out of your way. Come on Bae, we got to get ready." "Okay," I say. "Is my shirt ironed?" he asks. I've laundered them all so I don't answer. We both get ready and on this rare occasion he is ready before me, almost eager. "Are we going to Dorlester's house or straight to the church?" he asks. "Straight to the church," I say.
We arrive at the church before the rest of the family so I suggest we sit in the car until everyone else arrives. We're parked and Melvin is looking at this church with anticipation. "Come on Poo, let's go on in, whether it's right or wrong, let's just go." Just then, it begins to rain, he is not deterred. He gets the umbrella, comes to my side of the car, and off we go. When we get to the door, the rest of the family pulls up, so we became the unofficial greeters.
Once we were all seated, I was my usual magnet self, up against Melvin. When ever we area together, sitting or standing, I am just behind is shoulder and arm, stuck to him like a magnet. As the  ceremony proceeds, Melvin seems to be the only one praising God and supporting the ministers farewell of my uncle. His joy of my uncles life and home going becomes infectious and others join in praising and telling the good news of my uncle. Melvin celebrated my uncle going home with his back straight and his head held high.
He was in a great mood the remainder of the day. We came home, changed and sat on the deck. He told me he wanted spare ribs for Sunday dinner and he goes to the store to get them. He also stops by the house to check the mail and Earth, Wind and Fire. The house is our home where we raised the boys and where they live now.
We spend another quiet evening together in each others arms and love.

tomorrow