There will be no funeral today (only cause for celebration)

Dear Blogosphere:

It's official; I've just lived through the hardest week of my life. While I'm still in shock and keep reaching to call my mom, I'm shocked that it has only been a week. Feels like a friggin' year since my sister Melissa from Washington D.C. and I from New York City descended upon the amazing small town of Guntersville, Alabama (population: 6,000) to put our mother to rest.

While neither of us have ever lived there--most of our lives have found us in major cities in the Northeast--we had a community embrace us...most of whom have never met us. Didn't matter, they were there to help us because that's what communities do. Just like this marketing community did for me and my sister.

After we discontinued life support on Sunday we committed to something that I share with you: while it would be a hard week it didn't have to be a "bad" week. After all, we were honoring and mourning a person that impacted us in defining, advancing ways. We had no unresolved issues or regrets and told our silly, smart and sweet momma how much we loved her all the time. Geez, I even have a darn theme song for the woman and my sister has a pet name for her. We are, as weird as it sounds, fortunate to be left with such gaping holes in our hearts.

One glitch, though...a 'funeral' with sad songs and sad people did not align with our mom's spirit. It was wholly counterintuitive to the woman we were honoring. It was just plain wrong. And Guntersville totally supported our every wish and whim. So we held a "Celebration of Life" ceremony and "after party." Yep, mid-week my sister and I pulled ourselves together, put the kleenex down, trashed the the jeans and t-shirts we'd been wearing for days, scrubbed-up, dolled-up and did right by our momma. I even pulled out the pearls.

There was no funeral home. There was a nice sanctuary and then a great big room with big speakers, food and lots of sunlight. There was no sorrowful music. There was mom's favorite music of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison and many more.  There wasn't talk of regrets, there were funny stories. And, of course, the Pastor was a rockin' female (you go girl!).

My sister, who has never looked more beautiful and has never made me more proud gave a moving eulogy. She'll never know how much she radiated, but mom does. My eulogy was a bit spirited as I used some fun props to weave together the story of mom's myriad, amazing attributes. Oh, and we gave out custom-made CDs of her favorite songs along with her favorite candy (she was a sugar junkie and loved Kit Kat bars). I did ask attendees not to eat in church.

So everyone left with good stories, good food and goodies. As the photos prove, we had MUCH more laughing than crying. Mission accomplished, momma.

I am so scared that I'll leave people out that I've decided not to link to anybody but I need to let EVERYONE who has commented, called, e-mailed, sent cards, sent e-cards, sent poems, sent flowers, wrote poems, wrote posts, sent heart-wrenching stories of how they've overcome grief, reached out to me for the first time ever and prayed for me and my sister know: We Thank You. We are overcome, humbled and lifted by you. Believe it. I will be replying to each and every outreach; I just need some time so that I can properly reflect and honor each of you,too.

If anyone has any question as to whether or not these online relationships are real, please just point them my way--I'll happily set them straight :-).

Because he's just too good a person to say anything, I need to say it. I've now met and hung out with Mack Collier for several days as he was part of the team (he has to be so sick of me!). I can now verify with 99.999% 100% accuracy that he is truly just that fine a person. Mack basically put his freelance work, blogging and life on-hold to be there for my family for the better part of last week.

He downloaded and burned all the songs for my mom's CD (for hours upon hours on a dial-up connection!), helped my sister and I pack the entire place and is storing stuff for us. Folks, he did it because he's a personal friend but he also did it because he could be there for our entire community being he lives close enough to my mom's town.

And then Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton sent a whirlwind my way which has moved me so much that I really can't put words to my level of gratitude and awe. They have started an eBook initiative (which you great bloggers should take part in!) and the writers have decided to dedicate it to my mom. According to them "As you can imagine...many of your friends have already signed-on to write a chapter. So it felt right to make this community and conversation-focused book be dedicated to the woman who obviously taught you your values of community, listening, loving and bringing others into the conversations." I closed my eulogy on that gem.

While I'm all done packing my mom's place and it feels like a degree of relief I've never known, a VERY real thought occurred to me on the plane today while I was finally resting my weary eyes: a HUGE percentage of that "stuff" I just packed in Alabama is about to hit my little, already-busting-out-of-its-seams, New York City apartment...come Tuesday. Oy. No, double oy. I don't know why I didn't really think about it while I was packing (I did have a lot on my mind at the time).

So between unpacking and getting back to my patient, supportive clients my blogging will need to be a bit slow for a while; please be patient with me during April (it's been a hell of a month and I've got a heck of a lot more mourning left in me). That said, this blogger and bookstress is down...but far from out. Marketing reporting and clubs with cool books will resume as soon as possible--much shorter posts, too.

With as much gratitude as the world will hold (and then some),

- CK

P.S.: I hope everyone has a great Easter/Passover/etc. My sister and I were delighted that, among the many projects on her kitchen table, mom was putting together our Easter Baskets. Yep, pastel-colored plastic Easter eggs filled with jelly beans, hershey kisses and peanut butter cups. Yum. Every year, even at this age, we still got Easter baskets from mom...and fortunately for us, this year was no different ;-).

Pics:

• Top pic is me (duh), my mom's best friend Ruth Bevis (whom we've now adopted) and my beautiful sister Melissa. Ruth did not leave my mom's side in the ICU while Melissa and I flew to get to her.
• Second pic is of me (duh) and the rockin' female Pastor Ann Lawrence and her husband Frank (who also rocks). Ann and Frank also did not leave my mom's bedside while we were traveling to get to her.
• Third from top is me (duh) and Mack Collier (whom I've verified rocks as much as we all knew he did).
• Fourth pic is a lot of mom's high school and college classmates who had such fun stories to tell of the many activities and clubs she was involved in (apparently my mom had much more energy than me).
• Fifth pic is Melissa and her best friend Jacky who mom loved so much. He came in from New Orleans to celebrate Mom, help pack mom's place and support us.

Update: To view the "many faces" of my magnificent momma, just go here (it's worth the trip, she's quite a beauty!).

Comments

[Nedra Weinreich]

CK-

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like you honored your mother's memory in a way that would make her proud. She must have been an amazing woman. I lost my mom when I was 22; the hole in your heart never goes away, but it does get easier over time. I'll be thinking about you.

Nedra

[Drew McLellan]

CK --

You did exactly what you set out to do -- honor your mamma. I know she was with you that day, rocking to the music, laughing at the stories and her heart full of pride for her girls.

You know you don't have to rush back to the blog. We'll be here when you get back.

As for the e-book dedication -- it was a no brainer. It's a perfect way to honor her and we're so glad that we can do it.

Drew

[Lewis Green]

Welcome home, CK, and God bless you and your sister for honoring your mom.

[Toby]

A celebration of life is the best way to honor a life lived with the joy of living. Thank you CK for letting us join you in your tribute to your mom.

[Neil Vineberg]

Well, you celebrated "life" in true CK true style - celebratory songs, high spirit, black dress and pearls. I love it. I'm sure that the Guntersville, Alabama community will need some time to recover from your jolt of CK joy and energy. Maybe there is an annual visit in your future?

[mindblob]

Welcome home CK. I am sure your Mom is proud of you and Melissa. I am pleased to see so many blogger friends brought you support.

Now, don't worry too much about getting back to blog and emails. We'll still be "here" with you.

Kindest Regards from the other side of the Atlantic (not so far away, finally).

Luc.

[David Berkowitz]

I'm hardly surprised to see such a moving, vivacious tribute to life. A loss for you is a loss for your whole community, and as sad as it is, it's wonderful to be able to share in the celebration of life with you. David

[Valeria Maltoni]

CK: remember I am one short ride away. Thinking of you.

[Mack Collier]

Another wonderful tribute to your mom. And i do know she's thrilled that you both were able to get your Easter baskets ;)

[David Reich]

You are a classy lady.

[Gavin Heaton]

I love that you celebrated life by living. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Marianne Richmond]

You rock, sistah....now, as this momma would say, don't forget to slow down a bit and take care of yourself.
Marianne

[Ann Handley]

Fantastic. You did her proud... great photos, great write-up. You rock.

BIG HUG!

[Christopher Warden]

CK,

I just learned of your loss. My heartfelt best wishes and prayers go out to you, your sister and the rest of your family. Based on your blog entry, it sure looks like you celebrated your mother's life and did her proud!

[Katya]

CK, I am so very sorry for the loss of your mom and so deeply touched by the way you have honored her. Her joyful embrace of life and strength have clearly been passed down to both you and your sister.

[Mark Goren]

CK: Beautiful post. Way to go, CK, for being such an inspiration.

As if contributing to the ebook with such a wonderful list of people isn't rewarding enough, we get to do it in honour of someone who was obviously very special.

[Paul McEnany]

Only you could come through that with so much grace spilling out of your words. You are one remarkable lady. You surely did your mom proud.

Welcome back. :)

[Tim Jackson]

I really can't say anythin gthat hasn't already been said by the other, far smarter folks above this comment.

All I will say is that you handled yourself, you and your sister, with total grace and dignity. There is no way that your mother (Momma) isn't terribly proud of you both.

Just know that you have friends all over the place willing to happily lend you a hand during this difficult time. And we're all very proud of you.

[Red]

I love you so much - you are amazing and I'm so proud to know you. One thing I know for sure about you: you really know how to love your Mama.

Remember, the reason that processing this loss is so hard is because she brought such great joy to your and those around her. I thank her for that and thank you for honoring her so beautifully.

[Karl]

CK, I was so sorry to hear about your loss, it was such a moving story and I appreciate you sharing so candidly about it. One thing that is amazing to see is the way you have handled this difficult and traumatic time. Here's to you and your family moving from strength to strength.

Karl

[Nick Rice]

CK, The impact she made on your life is obvious. You've done a wonderful job of sharing and giving back. Losing a loved one is never easy, but it makes you stronger in the end. You have an awesome sense of spirit. And spirit comes from the soul so it's something that lives forever. Keep your head up. That's what your mom would want.

[David Armano]

CK, thanks for sharing this with us. I'm sorry you are going to such a difficult time. It's really special that you have decided to include us. We're all thinking of you and your family. Your Momma would be proud.

[C.B. Whittemore]

CK. What a week, and what a celebration of an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing this with us. Good luck with the boxes and everything else. Just holler if you need anything! Best, CB

[Sandy Renshaw]

"We are, as weird as it sounds, fortunate to be left with such gaping holes in our hearts."

CK. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. The sentence above touched me. It's so true. How wonderful that you had such a great relationship. Some people never know what that's like. Treasure your memories!

My thoughts are with you.

Sandy

[Lori Magno]

Oh CK my friend - I am sending love and belated hugs to you and your sister. Extra special love from Boston.

-Lori