For Carrie

The long days of waiting for my former inlaws are over. Now they'll be coming together, to say goodbye to their mother, life partner, sister, friend.

Even though our contact was lessened through divorce, Carrie was always there. By virtue, I suppose, of having her grandchildren, we shared a bond that really could not be broken. We also shared an understanding about many things, and there were many times I was grateful for that.
I know what it is to lose your mother, and my heart goes out to my formers because it's one of the hardest things one can ever go through. And with the long illness, I believe worse: I wouldn't want to go through what they went through for five more minutes with my own mother.

So this blog will be dark for a couple days while we get ready and make the pilgrimage. Thanks to all who kept the family in their thoughts.

Sending this out to Carrie's family, I hope you enjoy this tune called "Prettiest Flower There."

Prettiest Flower There
Rhonda Vincent, All-American Bluegrass Girl, 2006

I came into the parlor
A precious soul had gone home
I grieved with the family
Who'd been left all alone
The tears were freely flowing
Their loss so hard to bear
It was then I looked around me
She was the prettiest flower there

Angels stood at attention
When she was called away
For she'd held the hand of Jesus everyday
Heaven's choir played her anthem
As they welcomed one so rare
Heaven knows she's the prettiest flower there

I placed a rose by her side
It seemed I saw her smile
I remembered how she'd blessed all those
She'd met o'er the miles
Eternally she's resting now
In a garden so fair
And when Heaven looks upon her
It sees the prettiest flower there

Angels stood at attention
When she was called away
For she'd held the hand of Jesus everyday
Heaven's choir played her anthem
As they welcomed one so rare
Heaven knows she's the prettiest flower there

Heaven's choir played her anthem
As they welcomed one so rare
Heaven knows she's the prettiest flower there
Heaven knows she's the prettiest flower there