oy.
I've had the strangest birthday ever. Maybe not the strangest ever in the history of man but, definitely MY strangest birthday.I guess thats what happens when you attend a wake on your birthday and a funeral the day after.
I don't know what funerals are supposed to be like because this was the only one I'd ever been to but, I can say that it was incredible. Thats probably due to the fact that my uncle was an incredible person. I had no idea. He helped so many many many people in his life time that it would make anybody feel inadequate. I guess whats amazing about the whole thing is that his immediate family had no idea the impact he made at the school he taught at... he taught photography at a school for at risk children and became an integral part of these kids lives. To be able to do half of what he had done in his life would be a great accomplishment.
There were 250+ people at his funeral. I don't even know that many people! Every single one of the people that were there were affected by him in a personal way. Its amazing. I don't even know what to say about it.
I can say that I never really want to go through this particular situation ever again but, I'm grateful that my first experience was amazing. The priest that led the wake and the mass was really inspiring and I'm not a churchgoing person but, I would go to listen to him. Because he was a personal friend of my uncles there was a sense of solidarity. He's honestly affected by the loss and we saw it in the way he spoke.
In addition to that being the saddest and most amazing thing I've ever experienced firsthand, there was the part where I saw family I hadn't seen since I'd moved across the country. The family on my mother's side is HUGE. I have no idea how anybody is related to anybody else but, no matter because they are all cousins. I don't know who's mothers brothers daughters husbands sons aunt they are but, they are a cousin. It was a family reunion of sorts albeit under horrible circumstances but, a reunion nonetheless. Its nice to know that I'm part of such a big family. Its important to me. We took a group picture, if I ever get it I'll post it. In addition to that I met my mom's three additional half-sisters. We both met them for the first time this week. I don't think I've ever known anybody for such a small amount of time and loved them so much. They're pretty awesome. My mom's youngest sister is only 2 years older than me. How funny is that? She said that I can't call her Aunt Sue but, that she would be my big sister. I've always wanted a big sister so, that works just fine.
I'm not at all upset that this happened on my birthday. God willing, I will have a birthday next year. Your mother's oldest sibling only dies once.
P.S. I saw more dreadlocks and heard more Jamaican accents this weekend than I have in 10 years. I mean I knew that my Mom's side of the family is Jamaican but, for serious, like, EVERYBODY is from there. EVERYBODY. Amazing.
I don't know what funerals are supposed to be like because this was the only one I'd ever been to but, I can say that it was incredible. Thats probably due to the fact that my uncle was an incredible person. I had no idea. He helped so many many many people in his life time that it would make anybody feel inadequate. I guess whats amazing about the whole thing is that his immediate family had no idea the impact he made at the school he taught at... he taught photography at a school for at risk children and became an integral part of these kids lives. To be able to do half of what he had done in his life would be a great accomplishment.
There were 250+ people at his funeral. I don't even know that many people! Every single one of the people that were there were affected by him in a personal way. Its amazing. I don't even know what to say about it.
I can say that I never really want to go through this particular situation ever again but, I'm grateful that my first experience was amazing. The priest that led the wake and the mass was really inspiring and I'm not a churchgoing person but, I would go to listen to him. Because he was a personal friend of my uncles there was a sense of solidarity. He's honestly affected by the loss and we saw it in the way he spoke.
In addition to that being the saddest and most amazing thing I've ever experienced firsthand, there was the part where I saw family I hadn't seen since I'd moved across the country. The family on my mother's side is HUGE. I have no idea how anybody is related to anybody else but, no matter because they are all cousins. I don't know who's mothers brothers daughters husbands sons aunt they are but, they are a cousin. It was a family reunion of sorts albeit under horrible circumstances but, a reunion nonetheless. Its nice to know that I'm part of such a big family. Its important to me. We took a group picture, if I ever get it I'll post it. In addition to that I met my mom's three additional half-sisters. We both met them for the first time this week. I don't think I've ever known anybody for such a small amount of time and loved them so much. They're pretty awesome. My mom's youngest sister is only 2 years older than me. How funny is that? She said that I can't call her Aunt Sue but, that she would be my big sister. I've always wanted a big sister so, that works just fine.
I'm not at all upset that this happened on my birthday. God willing, I will have a birthday next year. Your mother's oldest sibling only dies once.
P.S. I saw more dreadlocks and heard more Jamaican accents this weekend than I have in 10 years. I mean I knew that my Mom's side of the family is Jamaican but, for serious, like, EVERYBODY is from there. EVERYBODY. Amazing.