Sep 5 - how large a footprint are you leaving ?

Yesterday, Sept 5, was all about heading to Burlington for Juliet's Wake -- "Celebration of Life".  We left at 10am and were home just before midnight.  Cassie was happy to see us back home !  Of course she'd had a good day with the neighbors ...

We got to The Poacher in Burlington about 3pm.  The wake was scheduled from 1-5 pm.  We picked up Joyce on the way.  Mary Van Horne also came.  Apart from those, Mark and the kids, we didn't know anyone.  Remi is 20; she's the youngest.  Jade is 26, the oldest.  Devon is 25 and towers over me, getting his height from Mark and Juliet.  Tya is 22.  She developed a very aggressive breast cancer 2 years ago; they operated, did chemo and radiation, hoped that they got it all but a year later it came back with a vengeance.  Words can't begin to help them deal with it.

Juliet had just turned 50.  Too young.  Way too young.  This was no "he/she had a full life and it was time". 

I'd guess that there were 300 people at The Poacher, inside and outside on a Tuesday afternoon.  Amazing.  Juliet had worked there; Mark manages a Milestones elsewhere (I think that I have those facts straight). 

Other than obligatory extended family members; how many people would come to your wake ?  I remember three that were like that -- my secretary Margaret Kelly's sister, queued up down the street; brother-in-law Fred, an entire town turning out; and, to a lesser extent, my Aunt Joan.  Some people are larger than life or have taken on responsibilities that extend into the community ...

There were speeches.  We only caught the end of Mark's.  The kids, well mostly Devon and Jade, remembered us, but Tya and Remi were toddlers.  They all did come to Jeffrey's wedding here at the cottage but that was 7 years ago, believe it or not ... 8/9/10 (M/D/Y).  We didn't even realize that she'd been ill.  It was probably on Facebook but apparently we missed that.  They've moved a couple of times since 2010 and we did not have their current address.  I've got Mark's number now and hopefully we'll keep in touch, but everyone's life is very busy. 

We went out for dinner with Joyce and Mary afterwards, going to a little Middle Eastern spot close by. 

The drive home was much better than the drive south.  Southbound we had a lot of heavy rain; northbound it was clear.

A very sad day over.  Life goes on seems so trite.