T-Bird Anni Rides Again

We went to my Auntie Margaret’s (Maggs if we were feeling brave or cheeky!) funeral today.  I was in 2 minds over going but, after talking it over with Aprilia (who only met her once, a couple of years ago) we decided it was the right thing to do.  There was a bit of initial fraught-ness with Mum who decided to inflict a new kilt on Aprilia which was (as all kilts are) prickly.  Aprilia does not do prickly clothes!  But we smoothed that one over and one good growth spurt and it won’t fit anyway so it’s not like there will be a lot of times she will have to suffer it.

As funerals go this one was lovely.  We came in to All Things Bright and Beautiful, the vicar quite obviously knew Maggs really well as he had visited her regularly after Uncle Jack died.  He’s a nice bloke and really had the measure of her personality so well.  He talked about her indominatable spirit, her fiery temper, her generous heart, her eye for a bargain and her deep and meaningful talks with the budgie who she finally realised was "talking back" after she got her hearing aid   He also talked about the arthritis that crippled her hips from her early 30s denying her the pleasure of her beloved dancing.  Then we sang a really "happy clappy" hymn, which was so much more a reflection of her than any of the standard dirges would have been and then we were off out again.  There was a chap stood at the door on teh way out offering out tissues which I thought was such a lovely gesture that even though I’d barely shed a tear (it’s hard to weep when someone is finally free of pain that they hve suffered for longer than I’ve been alive and has still managed to have such a wonderfully full life) both Aprilia and I wobbled a bit at that point. 

It was lovely to see so many family friends but sad that it takes a funeral to get us all into one place.  It was lovely to see Aprilia coping so well with so many strangers all around her and asking her questions, remarking on "what a big tall girl you are for 6!" and "oh dear, that’s a nasty cough, have you been off school all week with it?" (to which the answer was that of course she hadn’t, we just did school under the duvet instead ) But it was sad that mum felt she needed  hover round the edges of teh gathering outside then to sit at the back and slip quietly away without talking to anyone to meet up with an old friend for a previously arranged lunch date.

We finally got home just after 3 feeling pretty tired so I said no learning stuff today as we needed a rest.  It is nice to be able to do that!  Then this evening we went and collected Duke’s new (well, new to him anyway) car so he now has reliable wheels again and is a happy boy.