New Friends

Wow, two in one day? Well, I have to get caught up before the week starts again. Seems that I just have no time during the week. I am hoping this week is a bit slower and easier to deal with. Mom and I will do our 03:00 thing tomorrow morning to get me to the airport and mom back in time for seminary. I really do not like to do this but it does give me one more evening at home and one less evening I have to live in someone else's home. In three weeks since I met Ron Trump I have only stayed with him one evening. Well this week it will be three.

Our time in Utah was very difficult this past three days but also very wonderful. We were able to give Roger and his family some support. They really pulled together and took care of there Wife, mother and grandmother in a wonderful way. On Thursday afternoon Roger asked his family and his and Carol's siblings and spouses to join together in a private viewing. It was a time to celebrate Carol's life. We started with How Great Thou Art and a prayer. Roger conducted and did a very good job in pulling out comments. We laughed, we cried and we buried bad feelings and elevated good ones. Grandchildren all spoke of wonderful memories and of sadness. It really was well done.

We took a break from 17:00 to 18:30. Larry spearheaded a dinner for the family. He provided the turkeys and family members the salads and desserts. The formal public viewing started at 18:30 and actually lasted until 20:30. It was only supposed to go to 20:00. During the viewing Carol's primary class came and joined with the grandchildren in singing primary songs to Carol. It was really good. In a real break from tradition, refreshments were served as though it were a wedding reception. You may think this odd but the family wanted a celebration of Carol's life and they used the wedding theme as she had done so many cakes for so many people.

The "funeral" was held in the Relief Society room on Friday morning. Carol had asked for only a graveside service. it was too cold. It was about 45 minutes long. Roger spoke, there were two musical numbers and two other remarks. Olea Frandson and the Bishop.

Carol is buried in the South Jordan cemetery. Roger, true to his word to his bride (he does refer to her as his bride) saw to it that she was taken care of clear to the end. Even to filling the grave. He asked me to shovel with him and it was an honor. Very natural and very sacred. Then we enjoyed "funeral potatoes and ham" at the church.

Roger's family has supported him greatly and tonight will be the first night he has been alone since Carol passed. Overall, he is at peace but there is a great deal of pain in the loss.

The title of this post is New Friends. On Thursday morning I called my office just to check in and Josefina, our Sales Assistant, indicated that some of the people in the office wanted to do a
donation and wanted to know if we were receptive as I had kept this pretty close and not discussed much. I said no more. Didn't give Carol's name or Roger's name or any other details. They only knew we were in Utah. some very resourceful people found all they needed and provided a wonderful arrangement that sat on the sign in table. I was deeply touched and wanted to share with you.