Recalling a February day in 1961

Early morning lightning and thunderstorms but cooler than usual August day is here. Brief glimpses of life and light. Yesterday's visit to the cemetery to my grandmother's burial sight looms in my memory. I can well recall her burial in November of '82 and my grandfather's as well in February of 1961. Bessie was an incredible woman, mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, who befriended many among her extended family. In 1961 as I watched her face during the long High Mass and funeral for my grandfather,little did I then know how many beloved friends she had among my grandfather's large family. I can remember her telling stories about them and talking in her very quiet (not soft) voice to my Dad about the various family members, there achievements, there perquisities, and laughing(or in her case giggling) with him about the family caricatured and out of the box types. And since the family was so large, there were plenty family folk who could be joked about with their stories or bad habits talked about once again. Later on, occasionally I would get my Dad to share some of these when we'd be together. I wish now that I had nurtured and develooped more of those conversations. Going back to my Grandfather's funeral day, I remember Bessie telling Dad about how Brother Ray had broken down and sobbed at the end of the long day of prayer service. parade to St Agnes, parade to the cemetery, final prayers, and then parade back to Barrett's Funeral Home at the end of the services. It left an indelible memory and many images of people many of whom I knew only by sight.