Yesterday I went to Wallymart at 5am to buy groceries for the cousin whose father died, and a really nice employee, a black guy named Rick took a shopping cart and followed me. I felt like it was "Driving Miss Daisy" time with Hoke helping me because he was so accommodating and sweet. I pointed out what I wanted and he loaded up the shopping cart.
Four cases of soft drinks, milk, big bag of cereal, 2 loaves of Bunny Bread,  2 lg. sandwich meats, Kraft cheese singles, bag of bananas, jar of mayonnaise, lg. jar of Jif, jelly, 5 doz. eggs, big stack of paper plates, doz donuts and other things I don't recall. I asked Rick what else could I get that they could snack on and not have to cook that day and Rick said "chips and dip," so he went off and got those things (two of everything.) Then he helped load it in the trunk. I wanted to take him home.
I got back just as the cousins were getting up and they unloaded it all. Today was the funeral. A Holiness church in town graciously loaned their church out since Uncle didn't have a church. I cut a bouquet of red roses from the vines out front and took them. There was a paucity of flowers which made me sad. Religious music played over the churchs' stereo system, and the one that was saddest was Elvis singing "Peace In The Valley.."there'll be no sadness, no sorrow I see...there'll be peace in the valley for me."
There was a contingent of hunters wearing their hunter's camouflage since Uncle had, before his illness, been an avid hunter, and they all had deep respect for him. The preacher told jokes about hunting excursions with Uncle that caused everyone to burst into laughter. A grand-daughter read a poem. Before the casket was closed, Uncle's grandson placed a framed photo and other mementos inside and I asked the family if the roses could go in too. He liked roses. I placed them as best I could into his hands and they went into the ground with him.
Later; susil