Etiquette and protocol

[flying_wahini]

4. I had a Memorial gathering this spring for my sister who died in Canada a year ago.

Her dtr and husband had a small one up where she lived but it was pretty much for her friends up there.
It’s a long hard trip up to her place and expensive to get there. Figured I would have something for us down here.
I looked into a rental spot but found them all outside or terribly expensive. A covered pergola at a city garden was $4000, and that was for the small one! We do not attend church and neither did she so that was out. So I had it at my home. I had 44 folks show up; most of them family and her close friends.

I served a few finger sandwiches and had coffee and sparkling water. Cheese and crackers and such. I put out 4 vases of flowers spread around. Her daughter and husband came in and we shared a bunch of photos of her over the years with some of her favorite songs on in the background.
We all took turns toasting to her memory. Some said prayers and some just talked about her.
There were lots of tears and laughter.
After some of them left I pulled out brisket and potato salad, green salad, beer and wine and coffee.
Had the young men pull out a big folding table and chairs. Fed the still large group like I do at TG.
Luckily I didn’t do it as an outside engagement because it rained cats and dogs. Figured we may have had more people if the weather had cooperated.
I’m so glad I did it. I felt there were a lot of family who couldn’t get any closure and her husband and dtr
Needed it to feel the love of family and friends.


Just do it. You can announce it on your Facebook or social media if you want. There aren’t any hard and fast rules. It would be a good way to get to know your neighbors, too.