Epilepsy claimed the life of my cousins' daughter earlier this week. She was a beautiful 35 year old woman with a devoted husband and a four year old son. Her immediate family is devasted by the loss. Her memorial service was attended today by over 500 people. Our extended family is large and we turn out enmass when something like this happens. There were siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and their offspring. All of us jammed into a church intended to handle about 350 people. The heat was up there in the 80s and the air conditioning wasnt putting out at all.
In spite of the saddness of the occasion it is always good to see the family and friends that only seem to gather at these events. We had our tears and our hugs, our comforting each other and our promises to see each other more often. I'm sure her loved ones felt the care and support that was there for them.
The part that amazed me was the 135 minute service! That's only two hours and fifteen minutes! Nine different people were invited to memorialize her. One solo and one duet AND twenty-five minute sermon presented by the minister (a cousin also). Yikes! Someone be sure that when it's my turn 30 minutes is the max. Get in, get out, get on. Please!
