Back from Longmont
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:35 am
What a trip - I have expressed before what a long boring drive from Wichita to Denver can be, I did tell Sue that some of you assure me I-80 through Nebraska is worse than I-70 through Kansas and Eastern Colorado, she found no comfort in that fact.
I want to thank all of you for your kind thoughts. I do find much comfort in knowing that Jo is in a better place and rid of the horrendous pain she has suffered for years. She was a fighter, would not give up until the very end.
I have many thoughts on what went on in Colorado, there were some shocks from the beginning, mainly the way my neice had her mother's obiturary written, have never seen anything quite like it, don't know exactly how my elderly mother is going to respond when I give her a copy. She submitted a photo of Jo with the classic cheesy grin all we "Calico" girls can flash, the one our late father called the "Jackass eating cockoburrs grin", could not quite understand why considering there were many beautiful photos of Jo with her roses. Then she proceeded to list her father, Jo's first husband, as one of the survivors. Never seen that before either. Sue was upset that Tracey didn't seem to know how to spell her last name, she was listed as LeMaster, it's Lemasters - I also live in Wichia or some such misspelling of Wichita.
I met tons of Jo's friends and am trying to figure things out in my mind.
Suffice it to say, these people are certainly different from Kansans. I always thought it was just Jo that was snippy and outspoken, maybe she was that way because so many she associated with talked that way.
The chapel was full for the memorial service but there were very few at the inurnment. Later found out that Tracey had told Jo's friends that the inurnment was for family only, although some of Tracey's friends were there along with her daughter's in-laws. Jo's very close friends were hurt by this, can't say as I blame them.
I am not one to tell anyone how they should grieve because everyone does it differently, but I was shocked and saddened at some things that went on and tried very hard not to pass judgment, it's going to take me a while to get passed this. At the same time, there were many wonderful things that were done, such as the beautiful reception the garden club ladies gave after the memorial service.
Sue and I were glad to get back to our hotel and were jammied down by 4:00 p.m. and collapsed in emotional exhaustion so we could start back home early yesterday. There truly is no place like home.
I want to thank all of you for your kind thoughts. I do find much comfort in knowing that Jo is in a better place and rid of the horrendous pain she has suffered for years. She was a fighter, would not give up until the very end.
I have many thoughts on what went on in Colorado, there were some shocks from the beginning, mainly the way my neice had her mother's obiturary written, have never seen anything quite like it, don't know exactly how my elderly mother is going to respond when I give her a copy. She submitted a photo of Jo with the classic cheesy grin all we "Calico" girls can flash, the one our late father called the "Jackass eating cockoburrs grin", could not quite understand why considering there were many beautiful photos of Jo with her roses. Then she proceeded to list her father, Jo's first husband, as one of the survivors. Never seen that before either. Sue was upset that Tracey didn't seem to know how to spell her last name, she was listed as LeMaster, it's Lemasters - I also live in Wichia or some such misspelling of Wichita.
I met tons of Jo's friends and am trying to figure things out in my mind.
Suffice it to say, these people are certainly different from Kansans. I always thought it was just Jo that was snippy and outspoken, maybe she was that way because so many she associated with talked that way.
The chapel was full for the memorial service but there were very few at the inurnment. Later found out that Tracey had told Jo's friends that the inurnment was for family only, although some of Tracey's friends were there along with her daughter's in-laws. Jo's very close friends were hurt by this, can't say as I blame them.
I am not one to tell anyone how they should grieve because everyone does it differently, but I was shocked and saddened at some things that went on and tried very hard not to pass judgment, it's going to take me a while to get passed this. At the same time, there were many wonderful things that were done, such as the beautiful reception the garden club ladies gave after the memorial service.
Sue and I were glad to get back to our hotel and were jammied down by 4:00 p.m. and collapsed in emotional exhaustion so we could start back home early yesterday. There truly is no place like home.