Surfacing

My grandparents retired and passed away in the rural Virginian community where they were born and raised.

I have been here since Saturday night cradled in the care of these country neighbors who are my kin.

My Grandmother was buried on Wednesday.

I will be here with my mother and her siblings through the weekend closing up this house and a cherished life.

Because none of the immediate family lives close by, we’ve had to do so many tasks that most people are able to shelve until some later, less grievous time.

The closets and dressers are cleaned out.

I keep coming across saved bits of paper – a scribbled verse, an old letter, lists of memories meant for lovers eyes on the occasion of an anniversary – I don’t know what to do with them.

Perhaps I should build a fire and send them to her.

In a kitchen drawer I found a print out of the comments people left on this blog when my grandfather died. They must have given my granny some comfort.

I can’t thank you enough for the many thoughtful and kind words you have left for me this week.

It has been a very hard time.