We begin to gather

I awake, startled by an infomercial on the television. My instant thought was annoyance "Why did HE have that on!?" Oh no, there is no he. It's Sunday and when you leave a television on all night you get infomercials on Sunday mornings. from now on I'll have to do something different I can't take repeating such awakenings on a regular basis. Sarah and Kelsey later suggest a music channel for the overnight hours which works out quite well once I settle on classical and not something I am compelled to sing along with.
Benj and family arrive late morning and tumble out of the car and into waiting arms. We load up cars and head out to the funeral home. We go through the obituary first since we must get it to the Star on deadline. Hank thinks the photo will work fine and he can do the initial crop, the Star will do the rest. I have forgotten the photo so Sarah runs home for it. We go over the other details and review the bill. we don"t approach the national average for funerals - a relief but at the same time I can feel that it will not be on the "cheap". The viewing is arranged and we end up with all going into the semi-darkened room. We stand in clusters, our loss in front of us and in time we leave It is easier to seeBen here than in the hospital and sadder at the same time. I know two things: It is final and "he" was not there. As we leave Hank leans over and whispers to me "You have a lovely family.". I do, thank you.
We need food. I don't remember eating anything except a caramel long john Saturday but I know I was offered food and may have eaten. I suggest the Corner Cafe since they produce a diner-style variety of food and lots of it. We are feeding boys.
We head to the church to meet with  Mother Sue  Of all things it starts snowing! Huge flakes drift down. Thank heavens I wore my warm coat. Sue and John lead us through our choices within the litergy and music. My friend Lenette has agreed to sing. The older grands are to be drafted as readers, intercessor as I think they will do better in remembering they had a part in the service We decide that David gets to choose his reading first since he wasn't here to make the selections. The Psalm is the one I used to say before each balloon flight. The little guys ask, "What about us?" I told them they would have something but we didn't know what yet. When we included the eucharist, that became obvious, they could carry the oblations forward. "Yes, we could do that, Gams - What are oblations?" That explained, they are set up with a job. John suggests some hymns, I request "On Eagles Wings" (we had had that for my brothers' services and it is from a favorite psalm) as a solo and Massanet's "Meditation" as part of the prelude. Benj relates later he is swept up in memory of his choir boy years hearing John hum through  passages of music. Good connection for him.. We descend to the garden to pick the place on the wall. I yield choice to the children since they will be dealing with the decision longer than I and immediately reject their first choice. I accept the second choice and we hurry out of the cold snow and the magnolia tree in full bloom - what season is it?