Saying Good-bye

Funerals end and begin things. It's more than saying good-bye to the person who left this world. It's saying a brief hello to those you haven't seen in a long time, and something similar to saying a final farewell to them too.

Though death brings everyone together - especially with the death of the elderly - it also means the end of a large family unit.

I've seen my uncle twice in over 10 years - both times were during funerals. It woud've been three times except I couldn't attend my grampa's funeral. But I can't even remember the last time we or they visited just for the heck of it - everyone was always too busy.

Dave's paternal grandmother just passed away. We don't see his dad's side of the family much, because we all live in different places and rarely see each other. But now that the family matriarch has gone, this moment is not just saying good-bye to her but also to the family. I enjoy his dad's side of the family very much, but I also have a feeling that until the next funeral, we'll all keep moving on with life. Days turn to weeks; weeks turn to months; months turn to years; and years turn to long periods of time.

Nevertheless, it's been a pleasure having known Phyllis Hamilton and being part of the Hamilton family for 11 years and more.