ann kiemel

the day of chuck's service,

the sky was magnificently painting

slabs of wide blue over our heads.

it was the morning choir reminding all

of us that God was alive and ready for

the day.

the cathedral was magnificent.

chiselled like crosses.  pristine

in its design.  i was seated nearly on

the platform because i was with ann.

the pipe organ burst into music.  some

of my very favorite old hymns like

"Great is Thy Faithfulness".

eulogies by two daughters.

both well-done.

i had to suck up my emotions

because everyone else was in a wild,

celebratory joy that chuck now had

Heaven to embrace.

had only minutes to speak to cal

thomas.  does  your newspaper carry

his column?  they should.  seconds,

literally, to say "hi" to my dear friend,

wes pippert.  there was a private reception

that ann and i completely missed because

the concierge took my bag and put it in

the wrong car, and their bag in ours.

we raced back to georgetown inn.  got

it corrected, but by then the private

reception was over. great for us.

was spending a few minutes, alone, with

patty, chuck's wife.

evening came. the sky turning dark blue

as it folded its hands and turned morning

on.  

the wind is kicking up again.  i hear an owl.

dry leaves everywhere.  and i paid homage

to the great man we named colson after.

not an easy trip.  but life will never dress-up

in 'easy'.  now, it's time to keep the journey

of my soul and hang on to my children's dreams

and do the laundry.