Yesterday morning, I baked my orange and chocolate cookies. We had pancakes, went for a walk, and got ready to go to UUFA. We ended up late, as usual. I brought the cookies and  a few things from my garden to use as decorations if needed.

We sang for the service, stayed for the lunch, and then got ready for the memorial service. I had volunteered to coordinate the reception, which is not hard. Some of my "helpers" were worried that we would run out of time between the lunch and the memorial service, but I told them not to worry. Wilma started asking people to leave, and they did, of course. Hank was faithfully washing all the dishes and we were arranging the tables, when family members started arriving. They wanted to set up photos and flowers and that was fine. Plenty of food arrived and I went to sit with Ange in the service. There was standing room only and people came to sit up in front in the choir seats, facing the congregation. There were lots from Kenney Ridge as well as UUFA and others from the community. Friends of Steve's from Cedar Shoals 25 years before, and friends of the MacNairs from the African-American community and school of social work. People all agreed he was a lovely person who made friends easily. And apparently they are still waiting for the autopsy results and don't know how he died. He was in the kitchen, cooking something for them to come home to, apparently. He did have some issues with drinking and drugs earlier in his life, but seemed to be on track now. I am sorry I never met him, but it did make it easier to get through the service. Ange had volunteered to lead the hymns, but she was really nervous and I stood up with her.

When the postlude started, I zipped out to the Fellowship Hall and started putting out the drinks, which I had totally forgotten. We had no ice, so Ange went and bought some (it seemed to take forever). But, other than that, there was plenty of food. We replenished the plates and napkins, someone wanted a fork, and everyone enjoyed and was appreciative. The hard part is the tail end. Most people had gone, but Caryl stayed to clean up with Ray and me. I should have swept the floor, but my back was pretty sore.

We went by the MacNairs to take some of the leftover food and they were very pleased. They invited us to sit with them, out on the deck, but we went on home to collapse. I have Rebecca's email address and she has mine, so she can let me know if there is anything they need in the next few weeks.

I ate two bowls of chili and a portion of pepper casserole and some ice cream, watched some TV, and was in bed before 9. Slept well, my back is still sore, some coughing and stuffiness, but the temperature in the house is warm enough. I love not using the electric heat--or even the woodstove yet.