Preparing for My Father’s Memorial Service

Well, insert cuss word of choice.   Today I’m actually pulling together the memorial service for my late father which will be Thursday at the First Presby Church of Santa Monica.

It’s a good thing I’m finally getting a little unblocked emotionally which means, yes, thank you, TEARS!  Yes, the normal and natural response to loss, like the loss of a father, is grief.

SUCH a good thing that I didn’t bother with mascara today because even waterproof mascara is only SO waterproof before it’s flaking off into and under my eyes.  And normally I’m one of those, “Don’t leave home without at least mascara and lipstick on.” Some days it is just pointless.  And I turn such a lovely Irish reddish blotchy color when I cry.  It’s part of my being so damned genuine.  I’m so transparent, why bother to TRY to cover it up?

Will be on the road tomorrow with a nice leisurely drive to LA.  Felt that if I was not too disoriented (all 4 of us are disoriented right now – huh?) that the drive would be therapeutic.

This is part of what drives me to help people to develop both their primary love (marriage, significant other, life partner) relationships as well as to work on their communications skills to foster intimacy in their lives.  I’ve been through so many deaths recently that I KNOW the brevity of life and what matters and what we are left with.

Yes, we need to make money – and it’s part of how we prioritize our time – but $ comes and goes.  I can always make more.  Time is the limited commodity.  And in the end it’s our loving relationships which serve as our legacy.

Bless you and yours, and give them an extra hug today, live, just because you can.

April Braswell