So – the trip down to gather with my family to honour my Aunt Penny was not as bad as I’d feared, nor was it as good as I’d hoped. No bridges were built, no wounds really healed – but I did meet my second cousin Lily and she helped me count bushes and find snails. SO there’s that. She’s the granddaughter of Aunt Penny, and she’s the remaining light for my Uncle George. I’m not quite sure how I ended up watching over her outside the funeral home (I think basically I was the last adult to look up and realize everyone was making a break for the air conditioning) but honestly it was the best way I could’ve spent my time! After the viewing we gathered at Buffalo Wild Wings because everyone apparently needed a drink – though most of us didn’t – and the men watched sports and the women chatted and I sat between two silent uncles but across from Lily who was at least able to identify the cartoon badgers on the one screen not showing a sports game.
