Sep 28 - memorial service

I'm sitting here in Jeffrey & Sara's living room, Angelika, Aaron, Stef and Sheryl in the room, bustle from the kitchen as Sandy does some clean-up, kids playing upstairs, Frank and Melissa and two of there kids somewhere around, Susan and Liz, Chase ... and on the TV plays the slide show of pictures of Alexander that Melissa helped put together.

We had a crowd here after the service, Susie, Marda and Pam; friends of Jeffrey's -- Chris, Adam & Laura; friends of Jeffrey and Sara, family ... the crowd started dispersing around 4pm as David headed out. One at a time or in groups, people left after that and we're now down to the "hard core" ... ha.

The service was ... well, it was a memorial service for a 3 month old. What can I say. It was very emotional for all. The minister did an excellent job but the tears really started to flow as some of us started to speak. Jeffrey went first, choking out his words; i was no better, I'm not sure if anybody even understood what I was trying to say. Melissa had a poem to recite; Sara had one too. Wayne and Doris attended but decided not to come to the house; Jeffrey's friend Dean did too. Sandy told me afterwards that their pediatrician was also there.

Jeffrey put it all in perspective when he said that as a result of Alexander being two months premature, they had two more months with him. I hadn't really thought about it that way, but he's right.

I'm staring into space, no, staring at the pictures of Alex on the screen and listening to the music. Alex. Alex with Sara. Alex with Emma. Alex with Jeffrey. Alex with Liz.

-----

We had lots to eat. Chick-fil-A nuggets, a fruit platter and a veggie platter. A little while later we ate again -- more donations from the neighbors and pizza courtesy Susan.

Sara had this idea that we would release balloons with messages to Alex. I initially thought that it was a bad idea, thinking of masses of balloons and paper messages strewn over the landscape, right after the ceremony ... but of course I had it wrong. There were six balloons, hand-written messages with marker right on the balloons, rain to echo the mood and the kids released the balloons, the messages to Alex, into the night sky. It was perfect. It wasn't farewell, it was "take care, we'll be seeing you".

We plan on leaving early tomorrow morning, well, as early as I can get Sandy rolling. That remains to be seen.

-----

We're up. David arrived home safely, one less worry. Sheryl just left. I'm having breakfast downstairs with the PC; Sandy upstairs; we'll be leaving shortly. On the road by 7 or so, we should be home by 7 or 8.

Onward ? lost in our thoughts.