How many brothers did Yehudah have?
Aug. 17th, 2009 06:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ickaimpHe had Enough.
-My apologies, I've been out of words for the past few days. Borrowing the above phrase from Katie.
-Thursday-
Made it a bit late to the Memorial service, but it was Packed. The elder gent who ran the place and the other workers had been warned that there were going to be a lot of people.
There wasn't an empty seat to be found. The main room, the back room and the antechamber were full. The walls were lined with people. The lobby was full. And there was about 30 people standing outside in the Phoenix air, because it was cooler out there then it was in the main room.
Was slightly amused watching the elder gent wander around, looking confused and watching the thermostat rise.
People talked, some into the microphone so we could hear them, some didn't and made muffled noises. Tears and laughter were the order of the night. Wandering around, giving people hugs, tissues, and shoulders of support to lean on, even if you didn't know them. Didn't matter.
One lady sat on the couch, lips quivering as if she couldn't decide to laugh or sob. "No more of these parties." She said, clutching a tissue. "They're just too sad. My heart can't take them."
Little kid, bouncing out in the parking lot next to his black clad parents. "Wow! That was an adventure!!"
Spent the night with Agnus and Rivka, talking and keeping them company.
-Friday-
One of the things I never considered for a funeral is having a Watch. Public notices are sent out in the newspapers and online when everything is happening, which is like setting up a neon billboard that the house will be empty, please come rob me.
Fortunately, someone did think of that and volunteers were over to keep an eye on the house every day. From what I understand, the Watch was set up and in place before anyone informed Agnus of this. Oops. ^^;;
The service was much smaller than the Memorial, family members and those who could come. A Rabbi held the services. The thing that stuck with me the most was how it was right to grieve, as we have been for the past 7 days, but it is not right or good to grieve too much. Tissues were gathered and everyone headed to the cemetery.
Which, um, while having a map of the cemetery and which grave plot he is in was nice, directions -to- the cemetery would have been really, really appreciated as the turbaned man at the CircleK was not terribly helpful. Or friendly, really.
A brief continuation of service continued, then we were informed that due to Yehudah's large *cough* heart, the normal procedure of the pallbearers lowering him into the ground was not going to happen. A back-hoe was brought in, carrying a large concrete box.
Apparently in the State of Arizona, a coffin must be sealed inside of a concrete box when buried, to keep the body from contaminating the water table. Learn something new everyday.
Yehudah's son works in a mine and took over the lifting the lid from the box, then attaching the ropes to the coffin and getting it into the box. The lid came partway open during this part, but they got the coffin into the box, then started getting the lid on.
Which is where I think Yehudah was having a bit of fun with us all, flicking the lid back and forth so it wouldn't quite sit correctly. It took about a half dozen people pushing and shoving before it would close right. There was something remarkably silly about it.
Then the box was lifted up and set in the prepared deep hole. The Rabbi talked about how burying someone was the greatest kindness that one person can give another, because it is the one act that the deceased can not return. They set out a small pile of dirt and a few shovels, everyone lining up for their turn at the greatest kindness.
If they'd given us a larger pile of dirt, we could have dang near buried him ourselves. The rabbi and funeral co-ordinator were stumped as they realised that everyone, EVERYONE lined up in the sunny 109f temperature to have a chance with the shovel. A few of us took up shade duty, shading Rivka, her brother and the gentleman who was making sure that no one fell in the hole, while others brought little paper cups of water.
Then it was over and everyone drifted away, Agnus and Rivka heading to lunch with Yehudah's family (his mother is so tiny!) and Johannes and I went to visit with Morgan the Nomad, sitting around and talking.
We met back up with Rivka, Agnus and Katie, spending the evening talking and sharing stories. Introduced Katie to The Demonic Squirrel Motorcycle story, who was actually able to read the entire thing outloud with only a few pauses to catch her breath.
Rivka wanted the company, so I stayed over again, talking about Anime. She talked me into joining facebook and y-gallery. ^^;; Baaa.
-Saterday-
It was supposed to be Barony of Sundragon's Renaissance Man event this weekend, but they turned Saterday into a celebration of Yehudah's life. Think we calculated at one point that there were representatives from at least 12 different Baronies there, I know that there were Horde Brothers in from as far as New Orleans.
They had, to my count, 11 tables for food. They had the Boys and Girls club kitchen full of food, and started having to turn food away because there was no room. Just... OMG.
It was loud and noisy and jubilant and overwhelming just perfect. There was singing, and Birthday dirges and lots of talking. It was life.
Requiescat In Pace Yehudah.
-My apologies, I've been out of words for the past few days. Borrowing the above phrase from Katie.
-Thursday-
Made it a bit late to the Memorial service, but it was Packed. The elder gent who ran the place and the other workers had been warned that there were going to be a lot of people.
There wasn't an empty seat to be found. The main room, the back room and the antechamber were full. The walls were lined with people. The lobby was full. And there was about 30 people standing outside in the Phoenix air, because it was cooler out there then it was in the main room.
Was slightly amused watching the elder gent wander around, looking confused and watching the thermostat rise.
People talked, some into the microphone so we could hear them, some didn't and made muffled noises. Tears and laughter were the order of the night. Wandering around, giving people hugs, tissues, and shoulders of support to lean on, even if you didn't know them. Didn't matter.
One lady sat on the couch, lips quivering as if she couldn't decide to laugh or sob. "No more of these parties." She said, clutching a tissue. "They're just too sad. My heart can't take them."
Little kid, bouncing out in the parking lot next to his black clad parents. "Wow! That was an adventure!!"
Spent the night with Agnus and Rivka, talking and keeping them company.
-Friday-
One of the things I never considered for a funeral is having a Watch. Public notices are sent out in the newspapers and online when everything is happening, which is like setting up a neon billboard that the house will be empty, please come rob me.
Fortunately, someone did think of that and volunteers were over to keep an eye on the house every day. From what I understand, the Watch was set up and in place before anyone informed Agnus of this. Oops. ^^;;
The service was much smaller than the Memorial, family members and those who could come. A Rabbi held the services. The thing that stuck with me the most was how it was right to grieve, as we have been for the past 7 days, but it is not right or good to grieve too much. Tissues were gathered and everyone headed to the cemetery.
Which, um, while having a map of the cemetery and which grave plot he is in was nice, directions -to- the cemetery would have been really, really appreciated as the turbaned man at the CircleK was not terribly helpful. Or friendly, really.
A brief continuation of service continued, then we were informed that due to Yehudah's large *cough* heart, the normal procedure of the pallbearers lowering him into the ground was not going to happen. A back-hoe was brought in, carrying a large concrete box.
Apparently in the State of Arizona, a coffin must be sealed inside of a concrete box when buried, to keep the body from contaminating the water table. Learn something new everyday.
Yehudah's son works in a mine and took over the lifting the lid from the box, then attaching the ropes to the coffin and getting it into the box. The lid came partway open during this part, but they got the coffin into the box, then started getting the lid on.
Which is where I think Yehudah was having a bit of fun with us all, flicking the lid back and forth so it wouldn't quite sit correctly. It took about a half dozen people pushing and shoving before it would close right. There was something remarkably silly about it.
Then the box was lifted up and set in the prepared deep hole. The Rabbi talked about how burying someone was the greatest kindness that one person can give another, because it is the one act that the deceased can not return. They set out a small pile of dirt and a few shovels, everyone lining up for their turn at the greatest kindness.
If they'd given us a larger pile of dirt, we could have dang near buried him ourselves. The rabbi and funeral co-ordinator were stumped as they realised that everyone, EVERYONE lined up in the sunny 109f temperature to have a chance with the shovel. A few of us took up shade duty, shading Rivka, her brother and the gentleman who was making sure that no one fell in the hole, while others brought little paper cups of water.
Then it was over and everyone drifted away, Agnus and Rivka heading to lunch with Yehudah's family (his mother is so tiny!) and Johannes and I went to visit with Morgan the Nomad, sitting around and talking.
We met back up with Rivka, Agnus and Katie, spending the evening talking and sharing stories. Introduced Katie to The Demonic Squirrel Motorcycle story, who was actually able to read the entire thing outloud with only a few pauses to catch her breath.
Rivka wanted the company, so I stayed over again, talking about Anime. She talked me into joining facebook and y-gallery. ^^;; Baaa.
-Saterday-
It was supposed to be Barony of Sundragon's Renaissance Man event this weekend, but they turned Saterday into a celebration of Yehudah's life. Think we calculated at one point that there were representatives from at least 12 different Baronies there, I know that there were Horde Brothers in from as far as New Orleans.
They had, to my count, 11 tables for food. They had the Boys and Girls club kitchen full of food, and started having to turn food away because there was no room. Just... OMG.
It was loud and noisy and jubilant and overwhelming just perfect. There was singing, and Birthday dirges and lots of talking. It was life.
Requiescat In Pace Yehudah.