I hear the soundtrack from "The Big Chill" playing in the background...
A friend's father died, and I'm going home. Home...to offer a hug
...and to sit quietly in the church pew as she pays one last tribute to her father while suppressing tears, and I think -breathe - just breathe
...and to stand reverently in the background, under the funeral tent, side ruffles fluttering in the wind, a warm fall breeze floating over the white stones as the minister utters words, hoping to comfort
...and to offer another hug...
"FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ..."
home...
The orange glow of afternoon wraps the county roads and rural landscape in a secure blanket--
Combines run the rows, thrashing beans and creating plumes of dust reaching to the heavens--
Tractor-trailor trucks, burdened under the weight of a full load, share the narrow rural roads--
...roads that were built in the track of the snake that today is only skin on the center line---
A crop duster swooping, and spraying, then soaring heavenward just before the tree line---
Cotton modules standing tall and densely packed, white against the brown, spent stalks---
golden fields ripe for harvest
"...there's a church in the valley by the wildwood..."
(full lyrics here)
and all roads eventually lead to dinner
the restaurant specializes in fish, but today I order country ham and the trimmings
(hush puppies hiding in a basket just out of photo range)
dessert - certainly!
just a few bites remain of the chocolate icebox pie
this guest is happy to pay the check
(all photos iPhone 4)
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That post rang me up. Thanks
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