Thoughts on a Day...03:14 Dec 02 2007
Times Read: 740
For those of you that don't know, my grandfather (my dad's dad) passed away this past week. But please, dear reader, don't be sad for me. Instead, be happy that finally, after 40 some years he is finally home in Heaven with my grandmother. I'm happy for him, that he is at Rest.
Today was his funeral, and being as my grandfather was a devout catholic, a Mass of Christian burial was held for him. I attended, of course...he was my grandfather after all. However, I wasn't raised Catholic (my parents are pagan), so the whole concept of any kind of Mass is foreign to me. The ceremony and the ritual involved were very beautiful. I was struck with the parallell between the Pagan rituals and the Catholic rituals. There are many similarities: The chalice, the insence, the candles, music, chanting, even our wine and cakes could be likened to the communion wine and bread. I can see where even in times of conversion and reformation the new Christian diciple could carry over some of the Olde Way traditions. I could be over-simplifying and not getting the point but its the way I saw it.
On a more personal note, I got back in touch with some people who I hadn't seen in years. It truly came down to my family. For the first time in my life I feel a true connection to them, espically my cousins. We have been spread out across the country for quite some time and now are all back living on the east coast, so hopefully I will be able to spend more time with them, and they with my daughter. I'm really excited about that fact, because we are family, and really, when all is said and done, that is all you have. If I have learned one thing since July, it is that.
My mom came with me to the funeral. Now that may not sound unusual to you dear reader but the glitch is my parents were never married. Apparently before I was born things were very bad between them, and I didn't even meet my dad till I was 4. They had very little contact with each other all while I was growning up, but I think they really buried the hatchet (thankfully NOT in each other's heads lol) when I got married. So it was really a treat for me to see my mommmy and daddy sitting at a table together talking and laughing with their old friends.
Speaking of old friends and aquantinces, My ex-stepmom was there. I was really suprised and pleased to see her. I haven't seen her in about 7 years, and I finally got to tell her thank you for all that she had done for me while I was growing up. I also got to see one of my dad's old friends; the mother of the boy who gave me my first kiss. Of course that was 16 years ago, and we're both married now lol, but it was really funny to see her and remember.
After everything. my family and some friends and I went back to my grandfather's house and went thru some old pictures, black and white ones from the Old Country. The most touching moment for me was when my aunt was looking at a picture of my long-deceased grandmother, who I never got to meet, and told me that I look like her. She was a Beautiful Woman. The sentement and the love behind it made me sad but so happy and proud at the same time. I feel like now I really do have a legacy, something more to share with my children.
COMMENTS
-