And did those feet, in ancient times

Today was Mavis' funeral.  We took Climber & Cherub, because they knew Mavis well and because we thought it would be good for Mavis' two boys to have some friends there.  I'd had a chat with my boys yesterday to prime them for what they could expect, and they were terrific, but of course sad.  Indeed, Cherub started weeping heavily as soon as the service opened with Mavis' favourite song, Dancing Queen by Abba.  It was as though he was a little conduit for all the grief in the room, and he really didn't stop looking sad until we left the chapel.   Fixit was sad but stoic, Climber had slow tears rolling down his face on and off, and I was a mess.  But as I said to the boys in preparation, it's important to let the sadness out at this time. 

Afterwards, back at Mavis' house, we had a cheerful wake with plenty of drinking and laughing.  I was enormously comforted by the presence of friends from school, as kind and caring and funny a bunch of people as you could ever hope to meet. 

Mavis requested that people wear green and pink to her funeral, and this inspired me to make some crochet brooches; first one for me, then one each for Fixit and the boys, then another 3 for Mavis' children and her sister. Plus some spares. Really this whole week has been about trying to do stuff, because making and baking and having the kids over, in other words trying to throw some practical help at a sad situation, seems to be a therapy in itself.



Now that it's over I feel wrung out, but more at peace.  I think we sent her off in style and I think she would have been happy with it.