Hey guys

I am back from the Memorial - it was wonderful. I ended up NOT wearing the black dress we all picked out together . My flight was delayed a day due to thunderstorms in Houston - so I ended up not flying out until Saturday. My flight was canceled and my boyfriend couldn't take me straight home, so I hung out at the mall for a couple of hours, found the absolutely most perfect dress at Talbot's (not on sale, of course). I am wearing the original dress today for work.

We had a wonderful house full of people. Mom had done so much work getting ready, we kids sprang into action so she didn't have to lift anything more than a glass of wine or a grandkid. It was the busiest three days of life, we were either cleaning up FOR people or cleaning up AFTER people. We had about 15 people for dinner on Sunday, and about 25 people for dinner on Monday and about 60 people at the BBQ after the memorial - it was great. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Tom.

His son Brian arranged for the most amazing service - an honor guard of active duty marines presented mom the flag, there was a 21 gun salute and Taps - not a dry eye in the house.

I could go on and on - but it was really amazing!

And of course, back on plan today. I managed to avoid the carrot cake, but we won't discuss the brownie incident

Jen

If anyone is on FB and wants to see more pics, PM me! happy to send links or be "facebook friends" with anyone from the board.

My beautiful mother is wearing the Chico's jacket, shell and jewelry I got her for her birthday. That isn't a great picture of my dress, it was really really super flattering and comfy! The day was HOT but it was perfect (shoes hurt like crazy, but dress was awesome!)

Oh - btw - I chopped off about 10 inches of hair!

Your mom has so much poise! (As do you)

She seems like quite a lady. It sounds like it was quite the send-off

She is a lovely lovely lady.

You both look beautiful. The service looks like it was great - I'm glad you guys were able to send Tom off with such style.

I love this dress, too. I like Talbot's , I usually get pants there as I can get the right length without alteration.
You look great. like the shorter hair and your mom is a beauty, too. I prefer the funerals that celebrate the person's life.

Wow Glory. What an amazing experience this must have been. How's your Mom coping? She looks like a real trooper.

You and your Mom both look beautiful. 10 inches of hair? Betcha lost a few ounces right there . I am definitely liking the shorter do'.

And for me, I think the carrot cake would have done me in before the brownie. Carrot cake is one of my all time favs.

Hey Bargoo - we definitely did!

Robin - I am actually not a huge fan of carrot cake, it was Tom's favorite.

Okay, here are ALL the pics:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...localeid=en_US

I divided them up into galleries on FB and in the Kodak gallery, but I didn't really know what I was doing when I sent this link to friends - it is ALL the pictures. Whoa! You can use the little scrolly thing on the bottom to skim along, there are some really beautiful pics of the service!

What great pictures! It looks like the service was a true celebration of his life and the love of his family and friends.

You and your mom look great. I like both of your outfits.

(OK - was the great big sheet cake that read "Semper Fi" the carrot cake?)

Welcome back. I'm glad it went the way it did for you and your mom.

What a wonderful way to celebrate Tom's life. It sounds like he was very loved. I'm glad that the memorial was such a positive experience for your Mom, your family, his family.

Ah well, two new dresses *shrugs* what's a woman to do but make an occasion to wear them to? Your hair looks great, too!

I am glad you are back and so glad things went well. It looks like it was such a nice service.

Your dress is super cute like you!

Guess what I have been reading this morning???? SuperFoods Rx--14 Foods! My copy came a few days ago.

Very nice pictures. I cried at the flag ones!

Welcome back!
It does look like a beautiful send off.
I missed where in Texas the funeral was?
Both of my parents are buried at the Veterans Cemetary in Houston. My dad was a WWII paratrooper in the 82nd airborne.
Michele

Thanks everybody for all your comments and support! Sorry I didn't post this much this weekend, was fighting some allergies (sitting under my mom's live oak tree all weekend while it dropped those little stringie pollen thingies did a number on me!).

Jtammy - yes! That is the carrot cake. Mom was very determined to have carrot cake since it was Tom's favorite. The bakery put an edible Marine corps logo on it, which I thought was fun - hard to cut though!

Kittycat40 - ME TOO! I really am grateful for all my wonderful siblings who worked their butts off. And their spouses! Ha my poor brother-in-law David hauled trash and hauled tables and hauled beer - and slipped my mom 5 100.00 bills when he left. I nearly cried when mom told me!

Megan - Yes - now I have TWO great dresses. I wore the original dress to work last Thursday and it is awesome for work. So comfy, like a PJ dress, but still looks great. I'm still getting used to the hair. I didn't have time to flat iron today (skipping making lunches last night - big mistake - so the morning was more rushed than usual). I'm doing short and curly which is...interesting! I wish my hair either had MORE curl or LESS curl!

Thighsbegone - I answered your PM finally!!! I hope you are enjoying the Super Foods book - let me know what you think!

Crazy4Kenny - Me too. When the WWII veteran started playing Taps (he is 87!!) everyone was crying. It was such a beautiful service. The picture of my mom accepting the flag, with my little nephew Tyler looking so serious and handsome, it's my absolute favorite picture. I am going to frame it!

Michele - Hey! My brother Mark is in Houston! My funeral service was at the VA cemetary in Kerrville, TX (my mom lives in Kerrville). It's about 10 minutes from the house, so it was super convenient. Wow, WWII paratrooper - that is so awe-inspiring! It seems so amazing to be jumping out of planes way back then, it seems like they wouldn't have had time to create really strong, safe parachutes way back in the 40s!

My next big plan is to make a scrapbook of the funeral for my mom and give it to her on Tom's birthday (June 12th). I've never done a scrapbook before and it's a little overwhelming! I wish I'd taken a couple of flowers from the arrangements to press.