Wakes are hard. There is the person you love so much, lying in a coffin, and here is this whole line of people filing by solemnly, tears in their eyes, groping for the right words to say, wishing they could take your sorrow away but knowing there is no way that will happen.
Mom’s wake was like that.
At least for the first fifteen minutes. Then something strange happened. There were so many people, and there was so much love flowing, that for a small space in time, the sorrow did disappear. We were able to see her as she really is now – at peace, at rest, no longer confused.
Parting is excruciating. It is still so hard to believe that she is no longer with us. But that wake was a wonderful celebration of her life and her love – hundreds of people came, and no one wanted to leave. Stories were told and re-told, laughter rocked the rafters, joy abounded.