Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Flying solo and trip home

Flying solo presents lots of challenges. No one to talk to on the airplane..that you know. No one to hold a bathroom door shut cause it is broke and the last one open and you really need to go. No one to double check flight times/gates/seats with. It is always uncomfortable too but this time I realized I am thankful for people who make sitting next the the "chunky" chick seem like a cake walk..like the mom with the screaming baby, the family with 8 kids trying to rearrange the whole plane so her kids can sit all together. The loud snorer. I do not seem so bad comparatively to what people could sit by.

My trip home was awesome. Tons of family time extended and immediate. Everything about the funeral was just how it should have been. After the viewing a smaller crowd of Sherwood's' sat around grandma Sherwood's large table and shared Uncle Delwin stories until way too late.

Before the funeral all the family had a intimate meeting to do the same and share feelings, stories, or thought impressions. The funeral itself was super. My older brother quoted 2 of uncle Delwin's favorite poems that he used a lot in talks in the years past. One really touched me especially as I deal with PCOS and all its symptoms and side effects. It touched me a lot at the funeral, reminded me of all the things I DO have that whining is not helpful.

It is called THE WORLD IS MINE

The world is mine

Today on a bus, I saw a lovely girl with silken hair
I envied her, she seemed so gay, and I wished I was so fair
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the isle
O God, forgive me when I whine
I have two legs, the world is mine

And then I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad who sold them had such charm
I talked with him, he seemed so calm, and if I were late it would do no harm,
And as I left he said to me “I thank you, you have been so kind”
It’s nice to talk with folks like you. You see, I’m blind
O God forgive me when I whine
I have two eyes, the world is mine

Later walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew not what to do
I stopped a moment, then I said, why don’t you join the others dear”
He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear
O God forgive me when I whine
I have two ears, the world is mine

With legs to take me where I’ll go
With eyes to see the sunsets glow
With ears to ear what I would know
O God forgive me when I whine
I’m blessed, indeed, the world is mine


Sunday was a great Sacrament meeting where family and friend bore powerful testimonies of the Plan of Salvation and I got to sit with my nephews and nieces. We all ate at the church as a family again and it was super to see everyone and visit with cousins I have not seen in awhile.

Uncle Dewlin always loved family get togethers and the party started when he arrived. His funeral was no different. He brought us all together.Sunday night the snow came and we all got snowed in together at my Uncle Barton's house; we played in the snow like Uncle Delwin would have.We kept saying he gave us the snow it was 12-15 inches deep in places. We have not had that kind of snow in AR in like 10 years. We played games and watched his favorite movies. It was a blessing for us all to have a few extra days together to share and be together.

So many of our sherwood traditions started with him. He had the first 4 wheelers in the family, he had the 1st pool table, he had the fooze ball table, the pool, the first video recording device. When I think of get togethers these are the things I think of. We will all miss him and continue to remember him by enjoying life and taking to for playing and making memories. Come what may and love it!

Plus my momma's birthday was yesterday and 6 of her 7 kids all got to be there for it. We had a great time together. I am so glad I was able to go home and participate. Time is so short and being so far from family is silly--which is the most important thing here--I will be glad to be closer to home. I will miss my Alaska friends and the beauty here a lot though.

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