My Tía Olga was laid to rest yesterday. I placed the order online for flowers from my family for my Mom on Sunday. She got concerned that the arrangement was not going to be as beautiful as it was on the website. I called the florist to let them know that we were from Michigan and the flowers represented my family so they were important to my Mom Tuesday.
To further put my Mom at ease, I called the funeral home yesterday afternoon before the showing. I asked the woman if they received the spray from my family and she told me that my Tía received many flowers. She was unable to go in the back and view the specific flower arrangement but she told me that I could come in to look at it.
I let her know that I was in Michigan so that would not be possible. She asked which florist day I used and I told her we used the florist recommended by their service representative. I called on Monday so the funeral home was closed. She told me that they always recommend the florist and she was confident that the flowers would be beautiful. That put my Mom at ease a bit.
My Mom did not call any of my Texas relatives yesterday because she knew what a difficult day they all were experiencing. She texted my Tía Alma and my cousin Reyna, my Tía Olga’s daughter and told both of them that she was praying for them and she understood that they wouldn’t be able to text her back and ask if they would text her back whenever they could.
Shortly after she sent the text this morning, she received responses! My Tía Alma sent my Mom pictures of the flowers and of the extended Texas family who gathered in tribute to my Tía Olga. The flowers were as beautiful as they were on the website and I hadn’t seen some of the Texas family members in 24 years. All of my family is Brown! They are all my Mom’s family too because she married into the family so long ago and they all love her too!
My Mom was so touched at receiving these text messages and pictures because she knows firsthand how difficult this time is for them. She had a smile on her face as tears welled in her eyes. I told her that she did a good job and that Daddy would be proud!
Distance and circumstances did not allow us to be there. When I was young and we used to drive there, my Dad told me it was a 24 hour drive away to my Tía Olga and Tío Rey’s house. My current circumstance prohibits me from taking that drive or even that flight now. When my cousins Linda and Reyna we’re up here in Michigan for my grandpa‘s funeral, they told my Mom that they COMPLETELY understand if we are not able to come down for either of their parents” funerals. The comfort that I have now is that she is with my Dad on his birthday