ManicDDaily

Too-quick drawing of my sweet dad

It is hard to explain how much there is to do after a death.  It is a crazy time, so rushed historically because of the fragile nature of the body, and now because of the difficult interplay of multiple schedules.

So what are some of the tasks?

Picking out clothes to take to the funeral home.  Something nice, but perhaps not too nice.  (You won’t get them back.)  In accordance with family regulations, you must make any family member near the same size try on selected outfits first  to make sure that any clothes chosen are not things that might have remained with the living.

Buying food.  More food.  Sandwiches?  Shrimp?  Is Champagne weird?  If not, should we get the one whose name is like that of an old friend?  (Yes.)

Calling people.  Writing people.  Sitting with those who come to visit.  Accepting hugs.

Cleaning.  Going into the decedent’s room and discretely taking out the more unpleasant reminders: rubber gloves–compressed oxygen.

Getting beds organized.   Airplane tickets.  Car pick-ups.  Mattresses.  Sheets.  More food.

Cleaning out the fridge–Ensures don’t need to be refrigerated and space is needed for all that food.

Negotiating funeral program.  Reading Bible verses.  Considering non-Bible Verses.   Hurriedly drawing sketch that can be printed on a small-town church printing system.

Music?

Of course, music.

Oh dear, music!

Photographs.

Helping to pick out clothes for the widow.  Promoting the benefits of hearing aids.  Assuaging grief.

Grieving.

Organizing more food.

And more clean up.

A eulogy.

Mattresses.