Sardine of Bliss

[ismo]

The Diva is home, and so are we. Everything was delayed for her, but her connecting flight was delayed too, so she made it by the skin of her teeth. Before we left yesterday morning, she helped me shop for flowers and a couple of little vases at the Walmart of Sparta, Illinois. Then we had coffee together, and then we had to go. We took the flowers to Jerseyville and drove along the country roads to the graveyard where my parents are buried. It's a grassy hillside marked by a massive old oak and a pair of wrought iron gates. The lane inside is a simple arc that goes halfway up the hill. One portion of my ancestors are buried at the top of the hill under a limestone monument half worn away by the years. The other branch is on the other side of the road, lower down. I decorated the gravestone of my parents with a bunch of flowers, and the same for two of my uncles and my grandparents. There are generations, and the flowers I could carry were limited, so I just put the final bouquet at the foot of the monument to my great-great-grandfather to stand for all the rest. The sky and the land open up like two hands that unfold to offer a blessing, and the sun and wind pour down. It really hurt to leave that place. I don't know when I will see it again, but it's a comfort to have seen it once more.

The last thing the Diva did before going home was to tuck a penny into my hand. She found it on the ground. Grandfather always used to find money and save it to give the children, so we are always reminded of him when we find money. The Diva wanted me to put it on his grave marker, and I have done so.

I felt as if the Sparrowhawk needed a rest today, so I drove all the way home--about seven hours. It was fine, except for the usual ten minutes of madness driving across the south side of Chicago. I look forward to a couple of slow days . . . but not tomorrow because it is Madame Day. Mademoiselle sent me pictures of herself watching the partial eclipse in Michigan with her mom! They used the glasses I gave her! She looks really happy and excited. I am so glad she didn't miss it.

Comments

[oracne]

My parents were cremated and are in urns, so they are portable! They are at my sister's Beth's house. Both of them got to make one last car trip back home to Louisiana.