Viking Funeral & Final Expenses

This isn't a post I intended to write....

In a small flurry of late night tweets, I opened up about a private happening that occurred yesterday - causing an absolute outpour of support, questions and connections from you - my ever loving and devoted audience. 

While at first, I felt my vague little rambling would explain any sudden silences in my web presence, it actually caused some of you more concern then I had intended. So, in this once in a lifetime entry, I"m going to share the most personal aspect of my life.

 

Yesterday, surrounded by family, a staff of devoted nurses and a 24 hour morphine drip, my grandmother became one with the universe.



As many of you already know, she was like a Mother to me. She raised me, supported my every decision and filled me with just enough courage and general life skills to make most of what I try to do in life work out. As far as I'm concerned, she is the greatest and most amazing woman who ever walked the planet. Yesterday was a loss to us all - not just me.

I'm very fortunate to have had so much of her loving interaction in my life, and even more fortunate to have seen the 'end' coming for a while. There have been many occasions over the last year where I was able to make the trek to Florida to spend some quality time with her. We reminisced, watched bad tv together, and explained how iphones can take 'selfies' as we squeezed our faces together to take some pretty regrettable photos. It was everything a person in my position could hope for - no sudden loss, just a gentle glide into the inevidible.

I've considered this moment for the last year, I knew it would come and expected to be shattered. Somehow, I'm not. I'm sad of course, but I feel determined, strong, loved and as I mentioned in my tweets; ever more devoted to pursuing life's pleasures.

Until someone can prove there is some deeper meaning to life, I am going to assume that it's all about finding pleasure in ever moment and living happily without regret.

That's what she did; my vanilla, government employed Grandmother packed up her life about 60 years ago, and moved cross country when it was still quite dangerous to do so because "she was tired of the Chicago winters". 

She raised a child, became a widow and years later, fell in love with and married a bad boy on a motorcycle that she spent the rest of her days traveling with. She was unstoppable and fearless, and now, more then ever, I hinge myself on her tireless example.

 
I personally, will be fine. I have a strong resolve and resiliant spirit, so my heart and concern lie with the two people who spent time with her daily;  my mother and grandfather.

They will be left with the task of arranging her Viking style send off and covering her final expenses, a task that's going to be very difficult for two retired individuals.

I will be personally sending all I can to help, but there's strength in numbers.

Any contibutions sent will help ease the financial burden left behind and potentially allow me another visit to florida to comfort my remaining family in person - needless to say, it will be throughly apprecaited.