May 2011
6 posts
The Mexican Mummy
My first memory of, well, anything, was walking up to the San Gabriel mission with my mother and grandmother. The mission was too old to stand up on its own, and so there was scaffolding all around it. In my opinion, it was held up by stilts. My mother said we were going to see a saint. As we were not raised with religion, this meant little to me, but I was still excited, because whenever we...
So, I want this lady to perform at my funeral.
Because I love karaoke.
The Arlington of the West
There are two bald eagles fighting in the air, doing breathtaking barrel rolls and nosedives. I drive the hearse slower to watch. On my way through Cedar Rapids, heading to the National Cemetery, I’m completely impressed by how devastatingly beautiful it is here. Now wonder all those dead pioneers were so set on Manifest Destiny. I’m early, but there’s already maybe twenty cars...
Six Months and a Day
I was next door at the trophy shop, trying to get a last minute urn engraved for Nora’s flight back to Hawaii in a few hours, when I turn around and recognize the woman behind me. “Oh, hey! You’re Buddy’s daughter, aren’t you? Are you getting a trophy, too?” It was a stupid thing to think. By the look on her face, she certainly was not there for a...
Six Months and a Day
I was next door at the trophy shop, trying to get a last minute urn engraved for Nora’s flight back to Hawaii in a few hours, when I turn around and recognize the woman behind me. “Oh, hey! You’re Buddy’s daughter, aren’t you? Are you getting a trophy, too?” It was a stupid thing to think. By the look on her face, she certainly was not there for a trophy....
Another Saturday Morning
And I’m hugging an elderly woman. She’s clutching my elbow, because her husband of sixty years or more is in a cardboard box, and it’s almost time for us to put him to rest. It’s never an appropriate time to say goodbye. So, I patiently swallow my tears and nod. “No rush, Nora.” We walk, slower than slugs, from her car to the crematory door. Can you...