Hello friends and fellow bloggers,
I'm now back from my quick trip out of town to attend my late Sister-in-Laws (SIL) funeral. It was a very unique funeral. My late SIL had many interests in life and a host of friends and family members. She was a bit of a maverick and one of the MC's at her service called her one of the last true cowgirls of the area.
It is only fitting then that they opened service with a Cowboy's prayer. The MC's were and are cowboys too. Her son and other relatives also work with horses and cattle and many work on the land. Many First Nations dancers, drummers and singers were there to honour and sing to her for several days before and during the service. A fire was kept for several days and nights with young fire keepers staying awake to ensure the flame never burned out. Food was brought in by many locals and tea, coffee, juice and water was constantly available as we condoled with family in the days and nights before the service.
One thing that stood out to me is how everyone spoke of my late SIL's hospitality and kindness. Her brother was one of the MC's and he told the assembled crowd to put aside any differences and love one another as that is what his late sister was good at. Loving others and embracing people of all backgrounds. I certainly do remember her kindness and care. She was always positive whenever we interacted. I also remember her as an avid cowgirl and outdoor person, a hunter and fisher providing food not only to her family but to others. These are just a few of her unique characteristics and accomplishments.
After the service, her casket was driven to the local cemetery in a truck and was escorted there by several horses and riders including her son. Her grave marker was carved by one of her nephews. All in all, I know she would have been happy with how her family organized everything on her behalf and I'm sure she was looking down and smiling at the proceedings.
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| Her son (my nephew) on the gray horse. |
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| These friendly horses came up to greet us as we parked to get photos of the riders. |
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After the service, a few of us drove back to Vancouver.
About an hour into the journey home, we ran into miserable weather. At one point the weather was extremely stormy and windy while the skies poured down hail.
Other times it snowed or rained until about 2 hours from home when the sun came out.
Thankfully my brother was the driver and he is a most excellent driver in terrible weather conditions.
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| This photo was taken about half way through the journey home. |
All this wintry weather is not terribly surprising given that much of our journey is through the mountain highway, called the Coquihalla (Coq for short). It has the distinction of being the deadliest highways in the province with 400-500 accidents during the Winter seasons. Fortunately for us, there was not much traffic on the way home given it was still early in the week.
We arrived at the dinner hour but most of the traffic was leaving Vancouver, not entering, as people headed home from work in the city. We didn't have to compete for highway space. To be honest, the traffic was lighter going into Vancouver than I've seen it for many, many years in all my many journies back and forth to visit my late mom.
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| This photo is taken at the highest elevation of the highway. Surprisingly it was not snowing here. | | |
I'm now back home, recovering from the past week and trying to catch up to things.
It has been a very busy and difficult week to lose and bury a friend and family member.
I need a bit of recovery time too.
We are expecting a wet weekend so I won't likely be going far afield.
I'm hoping the weather will improve before all the cherry blossoms disappear so I can get more photos.
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Thank you to everyone who made inquiries and kept good thoughts and prayers for the family.
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