We paid our last respects to my uncle today. Loaded him up into a hearse then did a drive through of every significant place in his life. From the house he grew up in, to his middle and high schools, to a pizzariea he owned for a few years. Then finally the Church where he'd been baptized, made communion, was given a confirmation, married to his loving wife and finally given a last mass to welcome him home to the grace of God.
Aunt was hysterical and practically begging it to be just a bad dream (I know I was too) but we had a lunch together inspite of the covid and I'm home now...and in many ways so is he.
Knowing that it makes me feel a little better, letting go and saying goodbye is always the hardest part, but it's where the healing starts.