We've spent the past two days outside Birmingham, Alabama for a viewing and funeral.
Pumpkin's stepdad's mother, Kathleen, passed away Saturday. She was 91.
Isn't it bizarre how you look at your loved one lying in the casket and say they are beautiful? Well, she was. She wore a lovely pink suit with a pink corsage. Her casket was covered with a pink and white floral blanket. For the first time in two years, she didn't look frail or weak.
She looked beautiful.
Baby Chicklet is 4. This is only the 2nd time she's been to a funeral home. The first, which she doesn't even remember, and sadly never will, was for my dad's memorial service 2 years ago. But he was cremated, so no body.
Kathleen was buried which entailed a viewing and funeral.
We've never had to discuss death with her and what it REALLY means.
It's hard enough to explain to an older child, much less a 4 year old.
Needless to say, there were LOTS of questions.
On the way to the viewing yesterday...
BC - "Where are we going?"
Us - "The funeral home in Oneonta to see Kathleen."
BC - "Is that where the blue ice cream is?"
Us - "No, that's the Chinese restaurant. This is where Kathleen will be for us to say goodbye to her."
BC - "Why are we saying goodbye? Is she going somewhere?"
Us - "She's already gone, KK. She's in Heaven with Jesus."
BC - "Well how can we look at her if she's in Heaven?"
Us - "Her body is still here but her heart and spirit are gone. They are in Heaven with Jesus."
BC - "Will she come back next year?"
Us - "No, honey. She won't ever come back."
BC - "Oh."
Later at the viewing...
BC - "Can she wave to me?"
Us - "No, baby. She can't wave."
BC - "Where are her legs?"
Us - "They are under the flowers that are lying on top of the casket."
BC - "Oh."
Today, before the funeral and the closing of the casket...
BC - "I wanna go see Kathleen again."
Us - "OK."
BC - "Mommy, she's pinkalicious."
Mommy - "Yes, sweet girl, she IS pinkalicious."
What? Who is that she saw?
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Then...on to the swings. 
