We left early in the morning for the casual Memorial service where they would place her urn and some other items in her burial spot in our family plot. I remember only visiting the family plot one other time when I was a child - but don't recall much of anything. There were 27 people (including us) at the Memorial, some of them were on Peggy's other side and so I didn't know them...
For my mom's immediate:
Omar and I, Uncle Marshall, Uncle Turner and Aunt Diana
My mom's cousins:
Rob and his new wife Jennifer (from London)
Jim and his wife Nicole and 2 children, Cody and Matthew (from California)
Jim Phillips
MaryLee, Rosemary, Troy and William
Tom
David
Kathy
Nancy & Bubba
Gina, Larry, Jessica &Christine
The Memorial was nice hearing different stories about Peggy. I met her once when I was a child, however, due to my memory I don't recall. A bottle of chardonnay and a glass was placed in her plot as she liked to drink a little each day. A lot of readings, particularly Shakespeare and her favorite poem were recited:
Trees
I Tthink that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Joyce Kilmer
... I guess it was some family joke.
I had the chance to take some pictures of the family headstones.
 |
| My grandpa |
Afterward we followed Uncle Turner to find the monument to my mom's grandpa (W.T. Wallis) who was one of the original surveyers of florida. It was moved from the center of the state and placed at the FL survery headquarters.
Following we went to the cabins that were rented at Lake Talquin about 45 minutes away where Sonny's BBQ was waiting for us and everyone hang out talking. Later a family slide show was done with Peggy and other pictures and then we had a surprise mini-reception for Cousin Rob as no one was able to make it to his wedding because it was a quick, small affair. A toast, and cake feeding happened. It was fun. Some people went on a rented pantoon boat and late in the evening everyone headed over to the restaurant a few feet away called "The Whip" for some delicious grub. It was nice getting to know everyone a little better.
 |
| The original fish camp store |
 |
| the houses we stayed at |
 |
| Sun setting at Lake Talquin |
We were about to head to bed when we remembered that I had purchased some sky lanterns to be a memorial to Peggy as we would lift them off into the sky. Everyone loved the idea, but was scared to put it into action. They were afraid with all the trees that it might light something on fire. It was difficult to figure out how to use them properly. The directions were literally translated from Chinese to English. It was like it was stuck in google translate and copy-pasted. It was hilarious to read, but not helpful to know how to make them work.
My Aunt Diana and I went down to the lake dock to see if we could figure it out. It took forever it seemed for the ignition to catch fire and then for the hot air to build up enough for them to float away. It was beautiful. We finally convinced everyone to come down and try it. I would love to do it again sometime. It was a perfect ending for the Memorial.
 |
| Me and Aunt Diana |
 |
| Rob Wallis's new wife Jennifer |
 |
| my mom's Uncle Jim Phillips and Jim Wallis's son Cody |
 |
| Me with mom's Cousin Jim Wallis, and my Uncle Turner |
2 comments:
Pretty cool to see the gravestones of some of the people I found and did their temple work. :) Also, so funny about that poem.. I have that poem memorized?? I have no idea why I have it memorized haha, maybe from one of the car trips with mom? Finally, at my wedding you can do the lanterns! :)
Kate,this was quite wonderful. A couple of notes; about the poem, Mother loved trees, and despised this poem, you have to remember she was a literature teacher. Therefore it was always recited for and by her, much to her delight and dismay. Um, Virginia is on the Wallis side of the family, She is Robert & my sister. Here are the exact instructions for the Sky Lanterns (there are no typos on my part):
Wishing Light operating instructions
1: After the distribution of fuel to packaging equipment Kong
Cross wire in the side of the field again deduction presses
The fuel-pressure lock firmly.
2: A person wishing light take up a Top:
Another person fuel ignited the four angle.
3: Wait for that the heat enough light, lanterns person lest loose
A top hand, changes grips under the light to encircle, Has when
the lifting force may let go releases for flying.
4: Wishing light rose slowly the sky, do not forget Wishing oh ……….
Notice Item:
1: Should choose at the option open, calm environment released
for flight. No fire ban in areas. The tall building the floor, and
so on have covers under the thing to release for flight, must leave
outside the airport 10 kilometers from flying.
2:Wishing light can only be used for the distributionthr
special-purposeof fuel, prohibited by any burning Replace.
3: Wishing light are on the rise, that of the flying, cannot the long
time not put, and the Flight not to be append the foreign body.
4: Children must be under the eustudy of the adults use.
Declaration: Wishing light for the fire flying because of environmental ingredient such as improper use of security
Incidents caused by the release of the commitment. Production enterprises, vendors, transport operators, without any
responsibility. You use both, then you understand and accept on behalf of the declaration.
MADE IN CHINA
Post a Comment