From Grief to the Last Birthday Party
About twice a year I get a chance to visit my family in Florida. If my sister has a social function scheduled during my visit, she always tries to include me. A few days before my most recent trip, my sister called to tell me she and some buddies were throwing a 75th birthday party for her dear friend, Margaret, while I was there and she’d love me to come, too. This invitation took me by surprise. Margaret had died suddenly several months prior.
I didn’t know Margaret well, but between my interactions with her during visits and the tales my family members told, I knew Margaret was fun to be around, had a giving spirit, and a wicked sense of humor. And her still-grieving friends were going to gather to celebrate all three – in a way that Margaret would approve!
Everyone brought a birthday card that Margaret would get a kick out of. Several didn’t write in them or on the envelope, leaving them for the hostess to recycle (again, Margaret would approve!). There was happy chat over glasses of wine and simple appetizers. We convened to the well-appointed table and each sat at the place where our ‘goody-bag’ had our name emblazoned on it. We toasted Margaret and had a fabulous meal accompanied by zealous conversation.
After we sang Happy Birthday to Margaret, we enjoyed her birthday cake (mmmmmm, hummingbird!) and passed around her cards – including a few she had given to others over the years – amidst much laughter. It was a good night. A fun night. A way to honor Margaret that Margaret would have been delighted with.
With age comes the inevitable loss of loved ones, friends, peers. Many have traded the term ‘funeral service’ for ‘life celebration’ – they endeavor to make the memorial a time to focus on the joy of what was good about the life of their dear one, and how others were touched by them, rather than the sadness of their loss. But with the grief so raw, so new, the results are often not as uplifting as hoped for.
Through attending this gathering, I realized the benefits of having a party in honor of the departed loved one a few months later. Friends and family have had some time to process their loss and live a little with the hole in their lives the missing presence has created. But they’re not done grieving. The process of planning, gathering, honoring their friend and truly celebrating her life allows a release. To indulge in a bit of ‘psycho-babble,’ it provides some closure. It doesn’t make the hurt disappear or stop friends from missing her. But it does result in a shift from thinking about her with heavy hearts to thinking about her in a way that puts a smile on their faces.
I would say that I wished Margaret could have been there for her loving tribute, but I’m pretty sure she was!
What a lovely tribute. I like the idea of a celebration rather than a somber event.
Very nice……
It really was, Noreen – I felt privileged to be included.
Me, too, Sonia – I just think it takes a little time for loved ones to be able to pull it off.
Love this, Shel! It was definitely a wonderful way to celebrate Marg, and I’m glad you could be part of it! 😉
Me, too – you guys did a great job of honoring a special person. I hope I don’t have to borrow this idea for years and years!
oh, how I KNOW Margaret was in that room being naughty with the rest of us!! It was quite the evening and I totally enjoyed my house full of loving, caring women.
I considered myself an observer of the naughty, Cheryl – and what lessons I learned! You put on a wonderful meal. After witnessing your hostess skills, it’s clear why people enjoy gathering at your home! Not to mention that special guy who invisibly hangs out getting big stuff done!!
Come hang out with us here more often, Cheryl – if you ‘subscribe’ to the email list, you’ll get a notice when there’s a new post.
What a lovely reflection on lives that touch each other, Shel.
Well, it was a lovely evening, Connie – it was nice to meet you and a privilege to participate in the celebration. I hope you’ll drop in on us here often! – El
What a wonderful way to pay tribute to a great lady. Not missed any less, but her life and memory celebrated in a joyful way. She must have been amazing. :o)
She was a lot of things to a lot of people, but one thing I heard over and over is what a “Hoot” she was – fun to be around. After seeing it in action, I think the ‘after-birthday party’ is a great idea – one I hope I don’t have need to implement for a long, long time!!
My dad’s 95th birthday was just two weeks after he passed away (July 15). It was too early, the grief still too raw, for celebration. But … maybe next year! 🙂 The thought of him celebrating his birthday with Mom in heaven did bring us joy.
What an honor, to be well-loved, remembered, and celebrated by one’s friends!
I’m so sorry for your loss, Peggi. It’s still only been a month – it’s hard to process words like ‘celebrate’ when the hurt is so present. My own parents are 88 and 90 and I’m trying to steel myself for the inevitable, but the truth is I’ll never be ‘ready.’ I remember when my mom’s mother died. My mother was in her late sixties. I was surprised when she said: “I’m an orphan now.” That was about two decades ago and the profoundness of that statement has always stayed with me – we’re ‘kids’ at some level while we have parents, no matter how old we are. This whole growing up process is tough stuff. You’ll be in my prayers, Peggi. -El
This was a wonderful blog post. I’m so glad you were able to share it with all of us too.
Thanks, Lisa – we appreciate you stopping by!