My last duty?

[William M]

I'm sitting here writing to the group as I prepare to leave for perhaps my last duty as a new widower, after a several month break from such activities. It's been nearly 9 months now, but I finally got the call from the memorial provider. My wife's/ our headstone is finished and will be installed in a couple hours. I will be there to make final payment and to oversee the correct placement. I've waited a long time for this final step due to covid and non covid related shortages. Waiting times for headstones have tripled.

It's bittersweet! I can finally complete the long list of duties, and requirements that we are handed when this nightmare is dumped on us. I am happy it will be done. It's been rather depressing visiting her resting place with nothing there but a patch of ground and a faded paper marker with no writing still visible. Now I can bring flowers and have a place to leave them ( Granite Vases)  without them falling over the next day, and a place to bring and place some of her nick knacks she like to acquire, ( bells, ceramic frogs, etc.)   And finally I was worried it would not arrive before Christmas.  Now I can decorate for the holiday this year as she always enjoyed. I'm already planning what I will do  However, my emotions have been frazzled since I got the call yesterday. Lots of sadness as I'm back in new widower mode.

Anyway, just updating the group on my ongoing sad saga............

[KayC]

I hope this brings you what you need, finally to get the headstone placed!  Thinking of you as you're doing this.

[William M]

Thanks Kay,

 

I deed is done. I'm thankful it all went very well.   Everything came as I had ordered and had wanted. It all looks very nice, The workers were very nice and did a great job. The memorial had an extended, wide base base to accommodate two large granite vases. One on each side. I'm so happy that I now have a very nice secure way to leave flowers. It have been somewhat of a nightmare leaving flowers in makeshift  vase spikes that soon fall over or blow away after a storm.

 

I know many here have gone the modern cremation route.  My family still holds to the tradition of burial.  I know it was what she wanted.  She is there with both my Grandparents that she loved very much as her own. I to wanted it. It's nice to have a place to visit on Holidays, birthdays, and adversaries, to talk to her and bring flowers as I did in the past. The main reason, is I just wanted something of permanence that will outlast me, and that will say she existed, and I loved her, and this is her name!!!!!!!

I'm sure many would take pause, but I have decided keep a theme going for her throughout  the seasons at her resting place. I'm going back this weekend for the "summer" theme. Bright yellow and blue flowers on each side in the new vases.  A couple of her large ceramic frogs flanking the headstone, a small stone with "puppy" paw prints, and a couple large fabric pinwheels I found to catch the summer breeze for her. I'll keep that all looking nice until after thanksgiving, for the Christmas theme.  I'm somewhat embarrassed  to tell you what I have planned for that.