A Day In The Life

My Uncle Henry died last Saturday. He lived a long life, to 94, married over 70 years to my Aunt, whom I’ve written about here, and here.

The end didn’t come easy, he fell into the world of dementia in the last year, which was hard to watch. He had been a History teacher for over 50 years, never wanting to retire, his love for teaching so great. A man always with a joke, a smile, a laugh. The funeral was last Sunday, an all day affair, first to the funeral home, where his sons spoke beautifully about his life, his accomplishments, his love of family. Then to the cemetery, a long drive, we arrived at almost sunset. My husband and I stopped on the way to pick up our Aunt’s brother, he is 89. They don’t see each other often due to distance, and her expression upon seeing him was priceless. More emotion added to an already emotional day. We left the cemetery headed home West, the sky filled with an orange glow against the bare trees. Thoughts of Uncle Henry, a life well lived.

Monday we went to pay a Shiva call to my Aunt and her sons. In the Jewish tradition people “sit shiva” (the word shiva means 7) for 7 days following the death of a family member.They sit on chairs low to the ground as a symbol of mourning. People come to visit and pay their respects to the family. When we arrived Monday night there were no visitors, just family, my Aunt and her 2 sons, and many family members in the house. It made the visit more intimate, telling family stories of Uncle Henry, laughing even, retelling the many jokes we had heard from Uncle Henry over the years. One son lives in Atlanta, and it gave me the opportunity to catch up with his children who were there, and the children of the my Aunt’s son who had died. We celebrated Uncle Henry’s life for an hour until other people began arriving.

My cousins

The following night my great niece was getting married, so we hit the road once again to attend this joyous occasion. It was a lively affair, with family coming together to celebrate. We ate, we danced.

Two of my nieces, we always take a selfie at every family wedding

The week ended with a family gathering from Friday night through Saturday, for more parties celebrating  the married couple. Another tradition in the Jewish faith. For 7 nights after a wedding there are parties, (Sheva Brachos-7 Blessings) -7 nights  of happy celebration. Usually a sit down meal which ends with 7 blessings recited over a cup of wine. We came together once again over the Jewish Sabbath,  4 generations in all- I am a great great aunt to 4 babies who were there.

Me and the Bride Friday afternoon

A week of contrasts, death, life, marriage, one door closes another opens. Life moves along, and we move along with it.