In Loving Memory
It's always difficult to live away from home, but you settle into a routine and get comfortable--the days pass quickly. Until that dreaded phone call. As many of you know, Grandpa Markham passed away last week. Dad had called me the night before and given me a little warning, but I still wasn't prepared (how can you ever be?). My thoughts at first were quite selfish, "What do we do? How can we get home?" and quickly changed to, "I've got to get home to help Mom." However, time and weather are always issues when traveling from Arctic Alaska, and Mom and Dad assured us that everything was taken care of--not to try to get back. Dad had it arranged that we could call in to listen to the funeral, but those old selfish thoughts came back. "How can we stay here alone at a time like this. I need to help."
I was wallowing in self pity and hurting for our loss and our family when we had a knock on the door. In came Aana (Grandma) Bernice. She had hugs and sympathy and was quickly followed by Auntie Hilda, who embraced me with tears running down her cheeks. "We came to offer you comfort. We know how hard it must be to be away from home at a time like this." Hilda set a roast dinner on the counter, pulled out gummy bears for Oren, and perched on the couch next to me. Bernice moved to the floor, so we were sitting in sort of a circle. Then, with hands outreached they began to pray for our family from here to Michigan. They sat with us and laughed and cried and visited all morning. They left us to rest for the afternoon, and another lady knocked on the door. She pulled a wad of bills our of her pocket and said, "I am from E-Jays team, and we wanted you to know we are sorry for your loss. We would lend our support during this time." When she left, I looked at Brett with my mouth open. "Are you serious? What are we supposed to do with this?" Then school was out and one of my student's and his mom stopped by to offer support and sympathy. Mom Tina came in with hugs and Aaka (Grandma/Mom) Rachel with salmon. Rachel gave hugs, and said, "Adii! I just hurt for you. I cry and I didn't even know him." She stayed for tea and visited as we shared stories of our beloved Grandpa. Before she left she asked, "Do you mind if I have a moment of prayer for you?" Soon Hilda and Bernice were back with armfuls of food, enough to feed an army, "Eat! Eat! You need to eat!" We were absolutely amazed by the outpouring of love and support from the community. We were still hurting for our loss, missing family, but comforted blessed by the extraordinary people in this community.
It turns out they weren't done yet. We had more visitors through the weekend, and Tina came by on Saturday with a bag of money. "They pass around a blanket at the game last night for your family." We sent flowers to the funeral from the village and bought some pear trees in memory of grandpa, from request of the family, "Buy something for the land that will grow and prosper." On Saturday, I finally left the house and walked over to the store with Oren. All through my little shopping experience, I had people stopping and giving their condolences with hugs. After I paid, one of the ladies working said, "Wait! We have a card for you." It was a sweet, thoughtful Sympathy card signed by the workers and many others in the village. On Sunday we rode up to Stan and Doris's house to use their land-line phone to call in to the funeral. One of their girls stayed home to watch Oren, so we could sit and really listen. It was a great sermon that brought a sense of comfort amid the sadness. Grandpa left behind a great legacy; we celebrate the life a magnificent man.
Though we grieve for the loss of an amazing man, we feel blessed to live in such a caring, loving village. I recently heard that it was one of Grandpa's plans to visit Alaska; well, I think he would have loved it here. We'll miss you, Grandpa; we love you.
I was wallowing in self pity and hurting for our loss and our family when we had a knock on the door. In came Aana (Grandma) Bernice. She had hugs and sympathy and was quickly followed by Auntie Hilda, who embraced me with tears running down her cheeks. "We came to offer you comfort. We know how hard it must be to be away from home at a time like this." Hilda set a roast dinner on the counter, pulled out gummy bears for Oren, and perched on the couch next to me. Bernice moved to the floor, so we were sitting in sort of a circle. Then, with hands outreached they began to pray for our family from here to Michigan. They sat with us and laughed and cried and visited all morning. They left us to rest for the afternoon, and another lady knocked on the door. She pulled a wad of bills our of her pocket and said, "I am from E-Jays team, and we wanted you to know we are sorry for your loss. We would lend our support during this time." When she left, I looked at Brett with my mouth open. "Are you serious? What are we supposed to do with this?" Then school was out and one of my student's and his mom stopped by to offer support and sympathy. Mom Tina came in with hugs and Aaka (Grandma/Mom) Rachel with salmon. Rachel gave hugs, and said, "Adii! I just hurt for you. I cry and I didn't even know him." She stayed for tea and visited as we shared stories of our beloved Grandpa. Before she left she asked, "Do you mind if I have a moment of prayer for you?" Soon Hilda and Bernice were back with armfuls of food, enough to feed an army, "Eat! Eat! You need to eat!" We were absolutely amazed by the outpouring of love and support from the community. We were still hurting for our loss, missing family, but comforted blessed by the extraordinary people in this community.
It turns out they weren't done yet. We had more visitors through the weekend, and Tina came by on Saturday with a bag of money. "They pass around a blanket at the game last night for your family." We sent flowers to the funeral from the village and bought some pear trees in memory of grandpa, from request of the family, "Buy something for the land that will grow and prosper." On Saturday, I finally left the house and walked over to the store with Oren. All through my little shopping experience, I had people stopping and giving their condolences with hugs. After I paid, one of the ladies working said, "Wait! We have a card for you." It was a sweet, thoughtful Sympathy card signed by the workers and many others in the village. On Sunday we rode up to Stan and Doris's house to use their land-line phone to call in to the funeral. One of their girls stayed home to watch Oren, so we could sit and really listen. It was a great sermon that brought a sense of comfort amid the sadness. Grandpa left behind a great legacy; we celebrate the life a magnificent man.
Though we grieve for the loss of an amazing man, we feel blessed to live in such a caring, loving village. I recently heard that it was one of Grandpa's plans to visit Alaska; well, I think he would have loved it here. We'll miss you, Grandpa; we love you.
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