Yesterday went very well. My cousin Charlie and his wife Marie spent most of the day with us, in addition to the 14 members of our family. We took care of some details, Molli making sure people got fed and making drinks later in the day. Some worked on the puzzle we started with Mom back at Christmas time. It needs to be finished and cleared so we can use that table, as well as the other one. Amelia put together a display board of photos.

It's hard to believe, but the service was really wonderful. Ray and Molli and Amelia and I sang We Rise Again. Molli broke down right at the end. My Dad read a poem, Bredon Hill, that was incredibly sad and moving. Amelia read Blackwater Woods beautifully. And many of us felt we wanted to say something: Dad, Bonney, me, Polly, Hank, Ray, Chris, Amelia, Charlie and others. There were probably 50 or more people, mainly from UUFA in support of me, but others, some from Kenney Ridge, a few from the community. Her water aerobics instructor and one other from the class, their landlord, their pharmacist and his wife, my friend Ann Darby... People enjoyed the service and were, I think, jealous of our family. It is hard to believe that there were things I didn't know about my mother, but I think of her (and us) a little differently now, perhaps feeling a little prouder and more positive about who she was and who we are--someone who loved life. My friends from UUFA and Kenney Ridge did a wonderful job putting out vast quantiites of delicious food and drink, especially Deb and John and Sky and Basil.

We came home and ate and drank some more. Then we played charades and had a great time, staying up too late.