The Memorial

Saturday was the memorial service for wife's Uncle Jeff. It's been about 5 days since he passed, and I'm still and a state of denial. Even more so than when my childhood neighbor John died or any of my relatives. I think it's just so unbelievable still that this happened. I can't comprehend it still. I can't even imagine what his wife and children are still going through.

When I came into this family, Jeff was for all intensive purposes, wife's father. He was the patriarch of her family. He welcomed me into the family and made me feel like I really belonged from the start. He had that tough-love thing going, and I seriously don't think there is a person that's met him, that didn't like him. I can't say enough.

I'm very worried about the family. He's been in charge since he was 13 when his father died. Jeff kept everyone in line. Until the day he died he was doing so. Without him now the current rift going on in the family will grow considerably worse. I don't see anyone strong enough to step up. It's very sad.

One of the things I liked about the memorial was the many picture boards that were setup. He was cremated so there was a nice little box up there with all the flowers. I think this is the way to go. I don't want to be embalmed sitting in front of the family the whole time during the calling hours. I wonder if because I never actually saw him afterwards is why it's so hard for me to believe it actually happened? I don't know.

I have many more thoughts about the whole thing but it's hard for me to put them down, so I'm going to leave it at that. This was a very unorganized post, even for me.