for gramma hazel

MMM's gramma passed a little over a month ago. It was a shock & surprise for us all, and needless to say this past month has been a roller coaster of emotions for MMM.

The service is today, and I know that MMM's mother had mentioned her saying something at the service and she wasn't sure she'd be able to. I loved gramma hazel, and every celebration for the past few years has been graced with the smiles and laughter that only gramma hazel could bless us with... I wanted to prepare something to say on MMM's behalf in case she decided not to speak.

"Hello, my name is Tori & my dear friend MMM is hazel's granddaughter... Thanks to this friendship, I was blessed to know the joy of gramma hazel and many of you...

gramma hazel left such a treasure in the letter S read written to all of you... it reminded me of a poem written by the Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, Henry Scott Holland that I'd like to share with you.

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

grama hazel was a huge part of our celebrations. I looked forward to seeing her every year at MMM's birthday, and just because she is gone, does not mean these celebrations will be any less to look forward to.

This is a poem that was read at the Queen Mothers service, and I found it particularly apropro to share here, at the celebration of your own queen mother's life. I hope we can celebrate today with the same smiles and laughter that only gramma hazel could grace us with...

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Thanks you for allowing me this opportunity to share & celebrate with you..."