Of Family and Funerals

Friday found my siblings and me traveling to South Texas to attend the funeral of our uncle. I am the one who gets car sick so there is never a fight as to who gets to sit in the front seat. Kelli drove to the Little Town on Thursday sans children and husband. Boo drove in on Friday morning and picked us up along with Marshall for what became a very lllooonnngg day. Our first stop was five miles from town when Boo pulled over and asked me to extend the radio antenna. She was determined to pick up decent radio stations along the way. (I am a firm believer in XM Radio but do remember the days of sucky-ass radio reception.)

Kelli came prepared and brought along "Trivial Pursuit - Pop Culture II". We quickly discovered just how stupid we all are. There are six questions on each card ranging from "Fad", "Sports", "Buzz", "Movies", etc. The object of the game (I think) was to answer two questions in a row CORRECTLY. Marshall changed the rule because none of us could correctly answer two questions in a row. Getting one out of the six questions answered correctly became the object of the game. This game kept us entertained for 90% of our trip which is saying a lot for four children who fought like cats and dogs on a 5 minute trip to the grocery store. "Stop looking at me!" "Don't touch me!" "I'm gonna tell Mama if you do that again!"

We grabbed a quick lunch at Sonic and checked in with Mama. Gary gave us directions to our aunt and uncle's ranch which was about another 15 minute drive. I swear we crossed the Texas/Mexico border at some point on that ranch. It was a very awkward situation when we walked into the house. It had been over 20 years since I had last seen my first cousin. I had never met her two children. These people are family but felt like strangers. The appropriate greetings were made and we headed back to town to the church. Have you ever attended a funeral and as the family walked in, you asked the person sitting next to you, "Who is that blonde woman? How is she related to the deceased?" That is how we felt when we filed into the church. The preacher did not personally know my uncle. The preacher came on board about three years after my uncle and his family moved to Oklahoma. So, the preacher did not deliver an eulogy -- he took advantage of the situation and delivered a sermon.

We drifted to a stranger's house after the funeral service where tea and sandwiches and sweets were served. I was in desperate need of an adult beverage but to no avail. The drive back home was just as long as the morning trip was to South Texas. We left Marshall to ride home with our stepfather so it was sisterly chatter in Boo's vehicle. And Boo never did find a decent radio station for us to listen to.