My Grandpa's Viewing

The kids enjoyed seeing all the extended family at my Grandpa's viewing the night before the funeral.  They did pretty good for staying a couple several hours into the evening, but they did have Grandpa, Aunt Star, and Uncle Cody and Aunt Sara to help keep them occupied.  Owen ran around taking pictures, he said a sweet 'hi' to 'sleeping Grandpa', Isaac was hugging everyone (per usual) and had a couple questions about Grandpa's casket and body and about death, and it was Ellie that peppered us with a million questions the two days of the funeral weekend -- she was curious, fascinated, and confused by everything -- how the body was prepared, how it was preserved, why caskets, how are they carried, why was Grandpa dressed the way he was, why were his eyes closed, do eyes close automatically when you die, what would happen if we didn't close someone's eyes when they died, what is the point of a viewing, of a funeral, why do we bury people, is everyone buried, how is it different when it's a young person, why does Grandpa look so much younger after death than in the weeks leading up to his death, who owns the funeral home, who owns the cemetery, why are some headstones bigger than others, why do some have pictures, why are some people buried together (like my Grandparents have plots right by my parents plots and my little sister's grave) and some aren't, where will Greg and I be buried, where will she be buried, why don't they put the casket in the ground while the family is still there, and probably 100 more questions.  It was fascinating to watch her take all this in and ask such inquisitive, thoughtful questions.  Annie was quiet a lot of the weekend, taking everything in -- at the graveside on Saturday morning she had a sudden onset stomachache that had her sobbing and upset -- my Mom had just read how grief for children often manifested in stomach aches.  It was a hard, but beautiful weekend, and I'm so grateful for so much loving and supportive family that was there to be there with us and remind us what life is all about.