The Funeral

The funeral was beautiful and just as grandpa would have wanted it: full of hymns.

America neither had never been to a funeral in her own church or a burial at all so this was a first experience for her too. Both Korea and Spain were there with Fiji and America for the experience. It was good for the four of the United Nations to be together for the occasion.

For months Spain kept asking the same question: Is it cold yet? And for months America said no simply because 40 or 50 degrees is hardly cold to the bitter wind and freezing temperatures that rock the body during late January to early March...those that sink between 0 and 15F and wind chills that sink to that or lower. (They dare not be spoken of!!) Anyway, America hesitated but out of mercy says to Spain, "Yes, it's getting there." He turns to Korea with the same question and she quickly says "Yes!". Okay so Spain got a first touch of cold: Snowing at 28F in the middle of the afternoon, ice forming on the roads, and the family gathered at the gravesite. Spain has two winter jackets on. Fiji is in a fleece zip-up.

America does suppose it was cold. But when Spain got back in the car it was sure that the feet were frozen to the point of frostbite and needing to be removed. It was not THAT cold! Barely enough for frostbite, even in the light-weight footwear Spain was wearing. The UN was there for 20 minutes or so before we were back in the car - heat blaring - and on our way home again.

The snow-covered hill and grave was just as it would have been in the movies: gray skies, hole in the ground, people huddled around each other, and our breath shadows floating in the air until the temp had cooled it off. And there lies grandpa, one day next to grandma.