So here's the short of it, 
Today we had a "Celebration of Life" for Pennie. 


And here's the long.

We had been talking since we left Tampa after Pennie's funeral about how it would be really nice if we could do something for the community here in Chattanooga who knew and loved Pennie so much.   
David and Brian drove up from Tampa to be with us and Myra came in from Pennsylvania.   So many of Pennie's family and friends from Chattanooga came as well as several of Nathan's cousins from out of town.


Of course we are tired - it's been a long and very emotional day. But it was wonderful to be together with so many people.  

Those who knew Pennie were fortunate.

Those who were her friend counted themselves lucky.

Those of us who got to count Pennie as family were blessed.

Those of us who were lucky enough to be her family and count her as a friend have a treasure that will be with us for the rest of our lives.

So here's the short of it,

Tomorrow we start in a different world.

And here's the long.

We head home tomorrow.

Today was filled with the rituals of death - the funeral, the burial, the food, the fellowship, and prayers.

And tomorrow we will wake and take our showers. We'll pack up our bags and drive up the road. There will be days when we want to remember something and think that we should ask Pennie - she would know that. There'll be times that her presence is with us in a way that brings us pride and peace. There'll be other times that leave us with an ache for the years that we believe she should have had. But mostly as the days pass and we think of her, we'll keep her memory, pass along the stories of her life, and watch as things grow out of her life efforts that we could not have imagined.

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my Dad's death. In our lives, Alan and I will always pair these griefs. But we will also always pair the blessings that these two brought into our lives.

Perhaps Gene and Pennie are on a heavenly sofa somewhere sharing stories about their grandchildren. (something I often saw them doing in the days they were together)

PENNIE PEARLMAN Obituary: View PENNIE PEARLMAN's Obituary by TBO.com