life, death and family

I spent most of yesterday at the funeral and wake of my great-uncle George, who died last week at the age of 80 after quite a long illness. As is usual, with that side of the family, there was a big turnout. Heck, just in that one branch of the family alone, George and Margie had four children, 18 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild! Once you start adding in the extended family, the numbers soon mount up! I couldn't count how many of us crammed into the Ffynnon Wen for the wake, but I'd say it was upwards of 60, maybe closer to 80 over the course of the evening, as people came and went, ranging in age from Auntie Margie at 82 down to baby Millie-Rose, aged just 10 weeks! All connected, somehow or other, although most of us were hazy on some of those connections. My great-aunt Marion, who was over from Ireland, took one look at me and said "I know you're one of us, but don't ask me to put a name to you!" It was that kind of day!

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life, death and family

I spent most of yesterday at the funeral and wake of my great-uncle George, who died last week at the age of 80 after quite a long illness. As is usual, with that side of the family, there was a big turnout. Heck, just in that one branch of the family alone, George and Margie had four children, 18 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild! Once you start adding in the extended family, the numbers soon mount up! I couldn't count how many of us crammed into the Ffynnon Wen for the wake, but I'd say it was upwards of 60, maybe closer to 80 over the course of the evening, as people came and went, ranging in age from Auntie Margie at 82 down to baby Millie-Rose, aged just 10 weeks! All connected, somehow or other, although most of us were hazy on some of those connections. My great-aunt Marion, who was over from Ireland, took one look at me and said "I know you're one of us, but don't ask me to put a name to you!" It was that kind of day!

( More )