The Burial

On Thursday Night there was an earthquake here. The epicenter was less than a mile from Aunt Anna's house. Even the earth mourned her death. Today the families mourned her as well. We held her funeral on a Sunday, after several days of home visitations. All in keeping with Mexican and Catholic traditions. Neither of which Anna really identified herself as being. But, funerals are more for the people left behind than the one who has passed.

We did unite as a family. The delay between her death and her funeral allowed almost all of the family, many of her friends, and even some of her former students to travel to San Diego. We had an enormous picnic on the beach yesterday, and we’re going to light a bonfire tonight. Anna would have loved to be here, with everyone celebrating her life. She would have even just enjoyed seeing everyone celebrate.

It’s strange, but the games of horseshoes that Aunt Anna’s old college friends were playing in her backyard over the last few days seemed more ritualistic than today’s mass or funeral procession. Anna loved playing lawn games, dressing up in white to play croquet, indulging in the kitsch of it all, and convincing everyone else to do the same. These friends of hers – I have no idea if they shared her passion for horseshoes or simply entertained her for the last 60 years (right up to her death). No matter what, they played ceremoniously without saying a word. They used the game to resurrect Anna’s joyous spirit.

I remain unnerved by the fact that we held a mass for her today and buried her in the ground. Aunt Anna was as unreligious as they come – unless there is a religion that worships the Earth (which I’m sure there is). She was a scientist and a hippy through and through. Oh, she believed in a higher purpose, but in one much more complicated and logical than good vs. evil.

Speaking of good vs. evil, the idyllic family mourning process is about to come to a screeching halt. Aunt Anna’s will is being read on Tuesday (same day as elections).

I’m sorry about the infrequent and shallow posts – this has been a tremendously rough time for me.