A Mason

Saturday was finally Papa’s memorial service. It was held at the local Masonic Lodge. An adorable little old man from his former lodge in Pacifica came up to officiate. The best way I can think to describe the group of 60 to 80 year-old men who organized, served food, officiated, and cleaned up is as the best Relief Society I’ve ever seen. Relief Society 2.0. I was fascinated by the Masonic ceremony and it’s symbolism, several elements were strikingly familiar. Despite hearing issues I was able to get the man at the CD player to start the songs at the correct time. Q spent much of the ceremony with her head buried in my scarf – it was interesting to see how she caught the mood of the room and processed it – eventually she relaxed and proceeded to pop M&M’s into my mouth.

All in all a positive but surreal experience. 

I really wanted to roam around the lodge taking photos of all the Masonic art, the pillars in the main room with the orbs atop them, the box of aprons, etc. But it didn't seem quite appropriate, and there was so little time for photos. 

Loving the glowing G.

 A Shriner and a Mason.

 Papa made this shoe shine kit when he was a kid. Little entrepreneur.

 I have no idea who this man is kissing my grandma, but it's the only photo I took of her.

Sometimes You Need Sushi

It's been a curious week. A curious last few months. My boss called me in today to make sure I'm getting enough support in my life and ask if there was anything I needed. He kindly offered to let me hide in an office away from my desk & coworkers, and might have offered me more time off. Generous considering I was out for more than two weeks in October, out for a week and a half in November, and I'll get another week and a half off in December for the holidays. I can't think of the last time I spent so much time away from work. I'm practically part-time.

I couldn't help but smile when boss inquired about my personal support system and if I had a place to escape. I'm grateful for wonderful friends, who tell me I'm handling things beautifully when I'm merely hanging on. Or who put up with pages and pages of daily emails - thanks T!

Sometimes you just need some sushi to talk over. And a heater at your desk - it is freezing in our office.

G goes Victorian

G decided for her 14th birthday she wanted a Victorian tea party. It ended up being more of a hot chocolate party...which they all seemed quite pleased with.

It's slightly shocking to me that she is 14. In a few years she will be exactly half my age. When she was born that seemed ages away, now it's around the corner. Though it was a rather sorrowful week for our family, I believe both my mother and I enjoyed having the distraction of party planning. She throughly enjoyed watching me make all the tea sandwiches.

G & Co.

I stayed up much to late the night before doing paper projects.

Snack spread.

The great petits fours disaster:

The party has started, the girls are out in the front playing croquet while M & C₁ work on making frosting.  Sadly the melted sugar base reached a temperature much to high and became a mass of hard candy. I came to the rescue - meaning a much simpler glaze was whisked together. However, with the girls already back inside, the rush left many cakes decidedly haphazard. Not that a group of 14 year-old girls care.

Thank goodness we don't have to do a Quinceanera next year.

Wednesday Wednesday

 A dreary morning as Dad and I made our way down to the Bay for Uncle L's funeral. A stop at the office beforehand for Dad to drop off some work. I felt quite apprehensive as we drove into the city as to how I might react to the funeral given that my maternal grandfather passed away the same day as Uncle L and we have not had his service yet. I do hate loosing it in front of people. Especially on this occasion, where I have only one firm memory in my life of seeing Uncle L - and that is from Wednesday seeing him in his coffin. It would have been a little strange to sob uncontrollably about my grandfather and have everyone wondering why I was so upset about Uncle L.

Thankfully I was so fascinated by the Catholic funeral mass there wasn't time to get emotional. It had been a long time since I'd attended a mass in the States, and the first time at a funeral. Most times I've been in foreign countries when I've attended. I did have a small moment when the nice catholic couple in front of me turned to take my hand and said "Peace be with you" - without blinking I responded, "Thanks". Only when the man across the isle came to greet them did I actually realize that was not the response they were looking for. I looked behind me and my paternal grandfather was sitting there giggling at my utter confusion over the process.

After the meeting/viewing at the funeral home and the mass at the church we headed to a small chapel at a catholic cemetery in Colma where there was another service. This time the Navy was included. It was the most moving moment of the day. The bugler stood outside the chapel and played Taps, then they did the flag ceremony and presented the flag to Aunt D. If the bugle wasn't enough when the military Chaplin was thanking her for Uncle L's service I was holding back the tears, barely.

After the cemetery, which my father kindly let me wander around, we headed to lunch. I enjoyed visiting with my dad's family.

 Grandma and her oldest sister Aunt A

 One of Aunt D's friends brought trays full of homemade Baklava.

I ate over 7 pieces and had quite the pile of honey covered wrappers. 

Everybody loves a good "me in the bathroom" photo, right?

COLMA - I do enjoy cemeteries. Such great art...and equally awful art.

Glad the clouds cleared away during mass.

Favorite picture of the day, me and Dad having a lovely time at lunch.