A Trip With My Brother

Today I ventured out with my brother, we headed off to the funeral of my Mothers brother. It was a nice service, the cemetery committal service was a little long... trying to stand upright on an icy hillside behind my ageing Mother and Father. Luckily no one fell and broke a hip or anything. I think however I have a very young cousin who wished that she had not worn open toed sandals to a snow and ice covered hill in Minnesota. But I have to give her credit, her toes looked lovely and they were perfectly manicured. I am sure as she shivered away in her leather coat she was quite jealous of my down filled parka and especially of my feet which were warmly incased in lambs wool covered snow boots.

The Funeral Lunch was pretty good, the Funeral Hotdish was hearty and plentiful..a hamburger, elbow macaroni, tomato sauce with chunks of tomato and huge pieces of celery. There were the usual side salads in all colors and forms, fresh buns from the bakery spread with real butter. Cupcakes of every kind..German chocolate, chocolate and white ones with all kinds of different frosting's. That's what we do here in Minnesota..bury someone in the cold ground and then have lunch.

I had a good time visiting with some of my cousins from that side of the family that I hardly ever get to see. You see I am the oldest cousin. So it is the older children that I know well. My Mother is also the oldest living family member, It is hard for her to bury her brothers and sisters. She only has three brothers left and one sister..out of eleven..so over half of them have departed this earth.

My one cousin recently welcomed his seventh child into this world while he was on a little over night vacation with his wife..so this brand new 9 Ib 9oz boy was birthed in a Motel Room near Minneapolis. I asked my cousins wife if she was afraid..she replied " not really..It wasn't like I had never given birth before." The next day they packed up and went home.

I have a really hysterically funny cousin, she told me when she was fifty she had a mid life crisis so she bought herself a motorcycle. I asked her if she also bought a helmet..she replied "Oh yes, and Leathers."

The Amish have purchased my Grandparents D old farm place. I guess it is a clandestine bakery with some of the yummiest of items for sale. They cannot advertise because it is not a state approved kitchen. There is also a place that you can have your horses shoed. We did notice that the highway was a little brown and horse appley in some spots and the horse and buggy warning signs are up.

We took a different way home, on a road that I had not been on in years. Past some more of my cousins and second cousins homes..we had a good trip my brother and I and a good visit:)