Rocks-Ann One of Dozens of Cousins

this is continued from yesterday memorial post, 

My cousin Bonnies face, appeared on my phone, and Bonnie said are we still on for Rocks-Annes Memorial Service tomorrow? 

I started to whine, I really don't want to go, I rarely saw her alive, why go when she is not there, I don't have anything to wear to that beautiful church. I only own leggings and t-shirts. Bonnie answered, that's ok, it's ok to say no. She sounded sad and told me she was in traffic trying to get back home from Sarasota. She had just left the hospital where her lifelong friend, 65 years old is dying from breast cancer. she had been to say goodbye. We talked a little and she started to choke up and we hung up.

For the next hour, I whined to Bob I need to go, I don't want to go, I don't have anythingggggg to wearrrrrrrr... his answer is always if you don't want to don't go or go and where what you have, what is the big deal?

I dialed her number and said.

I changed my mind; I will go with you. She said you will, you know you don't have too. I said no, I will go. She turned and Said, Mark, you are off the hook as my date tomorrow, Sandra will go with me.

I spent the time until bed, INSIDE MY HEAD, thinking what people would think of an old woman at a funeral in leggings and shirt, fretting myself into a tizzy. Next morning, I tried on every legging in the closet, and Bob said wear the tiger pants. He meant leopard but that is a moot point. I said I will just wear black and black to blend in.

Next day at 12:30 Bonnie pulled in the driveway at my house, came inside and tried to keep dog hair off her black pants while she gave ATTENTION to Beau and drove me to the church.

The church is exactly ONE MILE from my front door. see above blue line. This is how I was dressed; except I did wear shoes. Well, not real shoes. I only own sandals.

this is Florida and it was 96 degrees.

She asked why I changed my mind and I said because you were crying about your friend, and I did it for YOU.

I muttered about how mortified I felt to go dressed like I was, and she said you look fine.

We drove up and she said Look there's a girl in shorts.

Guess what? We saw 4 other women in leggings and shirts, the deceased cousins' sisters, also my cousins, were dressed in white capri pants and striped t-shirts and one woman had on a blouse only, she might have considered it a dress, but in my head, it was a top only (see, I was judging Like I thought they would be judging me). Every female in the building had on SANDALS.

Including Bonnie. This is Florida and it was 96 degrees.

All my fretting over nothing.

I am whispering this, I am ashamed to say this, but it is the only Memorial service I ever enjoyed!

We chatted ourselves witless with friends and cousins, and the Service was amazing, the music was beautiful, her sisters' eulogies were full of laughter and funny stories, even the Priest told jokes about Rocks-Ann and the service was only 1 hour and 5 minutes, proving Googles Search when I asked how long an Episcopalian Memorial Service lasts was almost correct.

 Rocks-Anne would have loved it and enjoyed it and laughed with us. If you think I misspelled her name, the priest said it is on her birth certificate, he saw it. She was the first grandchild of Rock and Fanny Payne, and their son was Rock Jr. Thus, the spelling because she was Rocks-Ann and is now in heaven with both Rocks and her Mother Lois and dozens of cousins.