What Happened Next
Thu., December 11, 12:24 PM
U.D. had a doctor’s appointment at the hospital, so she thought she would drop in on Miss Neighbor. The patient had just been released, but the nurses told U.D. that the lady had fallen in the snow and had been there for some time before some kids who hang out on our block saw her there.
So when U.D. got home, she went over to the boys and thanked them for helping Miss Neighbor, and she got the rest of the story. It looked as if she had been lying there for some time; they helped her up but she refused an ambulance. So they took her into the house, and then they went home and called an ambulance anyhow. U.D. was still outside when a “handivan” brought Miss Neighbor home, but Miss Neighbor didn’t want to talk to her. True to form, she was too embarrassed at being seen in an ambulance.
Husband thinks she ought to have one of those alert systems that one wears around the neck, but I doubt that she would do it, even if she listened long enough to hear what he had to say.
Husband. U.D. and I took him to George’s funeral – a simple graveside service – on Tuesday afternoon. He had fussed at me because I got him up “too early” and because I made him wear a warm hat, but otherwise he seemed okay. There were a few chairs for family, but he said he was all right to stand. And the rabbi spoke about George's life, especially about the young people he had helped and taught.
When they lowered the coffin into the ground – to a call of “goodbye, Daddy” from a histrionic daughter – a lot of people were feeling pretty weepy. And the rabbi called those who wished to do so to put a shovelful of dirt on the grave; this is considered a blessing. George’s son commented, “if there’s one thing my father taught me to do, it was to use tools.” When it was Husband’s turn, he broke into sobs; I have never heard him do that. With that, everyone lost it. U.D. escorted him back to me, and I brought him back to the car.
It was difficult, but I’m glad we went.
Reasons to be grateful:
- That Husband was able to visit George a couple of weeks ago.
- That the funeral wasn’t today, when it is pouring rain.
