Tuesday, August 25, 05 Life goes on.....here's to you Granmac

We said our goodbyes - Mac's ashes were buried up north at our cottage on the lake...Saturday August 22, 2015. I'm just going to write here the lovely words that our granddaughter, Rosemary said and following her words and mine, each person in the family put some earth over the ashes and so life goes on....

Rosemary's Eulogy

Here's to you Granmac-Mac-Gordon-Sonny Boy
to your gleeful days running obliviously along cars in St. Henri parades
teasing, charming and running with the boys
to your days at the beach and dancing nights with your future wife
a girl in distressed waters - bathing suit ripped
a laugh in the theater - both on different dates
oh the games
you and your twinkling eyes - a beautiful man
This is only some of what I know of you then.
Here's to you Granmac - Mac - Gordon Sonny boy
father of five
who was REALLY there and who would be forever if you could be.
Strategically placing marbles on the foot of a child's bed
doubling daughters on bikes,
Everybody's man.
This is only some of what I know of you then.
MY memories:
dancing-faces-bouncing a bearded man making a great hullaballoo
parading in singing line up the stairs singing put to bed,
on the dock at the lake I was grumpy, I was 2 or 3,
Don't be grumpy with granmac they told me.
"It's ok. Just let her be" you say chuckling eyes on me still twinkling
We're left together there as we sit in silence, water lapping
and we let each other be, No forced conversation.
You always let me be.
Car rides in the double O seven and hard white mints
mornings up North bright and early, I could hear you in the living room, next to the hearth
phumph! phumph! phumph!
You got the fire going first thing and then the coffee
Then crosswords in the sunroom
In the morning light we would watch the blue jays on the feeding line
and laugh at the chipmunks and squirrels attempting to do the same.
Later we would go to the shed and get some whole peanuts to offer up to Chippy who bit you once.
but you laughed about it and forgave him
You came ferociously around the bend of the cottage,-angry bushman "Who broke the oar!? You roared. The boys scattered and I froze. Wildly looking about eyebrows furrowed and entangled.
defeated tromping back off into the woods grumbling under your breath
(what a moment)
Batting bees out of my hair with great purpose.
An impressive temper, but also an impressive capacity for all emotions
Being secretive, I hid in the back seat of our car parked in the woods. Your moment with your son, Where you collapsed on his shoulder when your sister died. I peered and didn't make a sound until the two of you were gone
That moment in the woods, Those moments in the woods,
You and your twinkling eyes - a beautiful man
This is only some of what you were to me
Here's to you
forever you will be.

Beautiful words from a beautiful granddaughter. g'nite