Remembering...

This weekend I will travel to a little town in the black belt of Alabama called Benton.  It is where my family will be.  It is where we will remember her....

It is confusing that she died in November, but we are just now having her memorial.  But, that is what we are doing and it is what we should do. We are a large Irish family with Catholic roots, which equals LARGE.  My Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa had five children, and amongst them, they have 16 children (plus some stepchildren) and amongst us we have 8 children (plus some stepchildren).  So, our immediate family is huge.  When I got married and had a "small" beach wedding with family and close friends only;  99 % of the aforementioned Gallagher clan was there. Thus, my "small" wedding had over 100 guests.  Most of them were direct decedents of Ann Kennedy Gallagher, my ma-ma.  All of her children, most of her grandchildren, and all of the great-grandchildren to date were there. 

We span the country and the globe.  When MaMa passed away on November 10, that large family of mine was spread far and wide.  Some were in China. Some were in Ireland.  It just was not right to memorialize my MaMa without everyone there. So, this Saturday, we will all travel to Benton, home of the youngest of Ann's daughters. 

It will be sad. It will be emotional. It will be healing.  We will cry. But we will also laugh, because that is what Gallaghers do when together.  It will probably be at someone's expense- at time's even mine (that is the Irish humor) and it will be fun.

But most of all, we will think of her(MaMa) and be there for him (PaPa) and eachother.

Last time I saw my sweet MaMa, she took her last breath and since that night, I have been holding mine until this service.  It will feel good to let it go, to finally feel the emotions- good and bad.

So,  prayers for my family would be appreciated this weekend, but don't feel bad for us because after the mass, we will be laughing.... a lot.