Today begins a new season for us, although here in the DC area, Mother Nature must have forgotten given the snow flakes we had today.  Friday marked a new season for my aunt, cousins and extended family as my Uncle Jack passed away.  Although well into his 80’s, you realize that no matter how long someone lives, it is never long enough for those who love them.

I was talking to my Aunt Grace when she got home from the funeral home yesterday after making the arrangements. She was worried that the clothes wouldn’t look good as my Uncle Jack has lost weight since they were purchased but the funeral director assured her they would be fine.

We laughed about worrying about this but I know the feeling. Before my Dad died, he had decided he wanted to be buried in this blue jacket of his. He was quite set on this. The jacket was probably ok when he first thought about this but as the years went on, the jacket was way out of style. Nevertheless, every time he asked if I still had his jacket, I replied I did. I thought that was true. But when the day came to get it to take it to the funeral home, I couldn’t find it. It wasn’t in any closet much less the one I was sure I put it in.

At the time, this was almost more of a blow than his death. Seems stupid but I felt I had disappointed him and in a time of grief, you get focused on some stupid stuff. I went off to the funeral home with a plan to go buy a jacket later and bring it over. Turns out, the funeral home sells clothes. Yep, have no fear, it is one stop shopping and much to my delight, there was a nice blue jacket. I just hope my Dad never took too good a look at it or he might have realized that his blue jacket, the one with the red stitching, a gem in the 70’s, had been replaced.

Similarly, my grandmother picked out an outfit for her burial. Correction, she picked out two outfits – one if her neck “still looked good” and one if it didn’t and needed to be covered. Not only had she picked out her clothing but she had picked out everything else. We just had to deliver her to the funeral home. It seems odd to plan everything yourself but not having to make so many decisions at that time of sadness it a relief. In the end, we went with the neck-covering outfit, just in case there was a disagreement of what constituted a good looking neck on a 90+ year old. Didn’t want to embarrass her in the afterlife.

As we say goodbye to Uncle Jack, the days ahead will be marked with sadness and I’m sure, many laughs. Our family loves to tease, that’s how we show our love and affection. So even after death, you might still get your share. My cousin Sue and I had a few laughs this morning as we chatted about the arrangements. A new season ahead for us all, but one filled with thankfulness, joy, many loving memories and more than a few laughs.