Not sure who knows, but Vic and I went to Sharon's memorial service on Saturday. I drove to NC and picked Vic up then we proceeded to KY the following day. I'll try and write as well as Vic did about our experience at the memorial and the entire trip. .
Meeting Vic was like greeting an old friend! And we have so much in common. She and Hank have a lovely home and made me feel very welcome. I didn't arrive until after 8:30 Friday night, probably later than Vic usually even stays up, but we still stayed up and got to know more about each other for another hour or so.
Vic talked about driving through "the gorge," so I was a bit apprehensive but it was daylight and I have driven the PA turnpike, which can get quite hairy when the truckers are next to you so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it went fine.
We got messed up with the time change even though we knew about it, but meeting up with Mary Ann worked out fine, other than we didn't get to spend enough time together. Again, it was like getting together with an old friend and she reminded me of more details she had shared on BG that now will forever click because of meeting her in person. And it was so thoughtful of Mary Ann to bring us each a gift. (I never think of those things, sorry Mary Ann!
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Vic, Arlene and Mary Ann
After we met Mary Ann we had just enough time to check into the hotel and take a quick shower. We saw a homemade plywood bench outside of the hotel and I told Vic I hoped that wasn't a sign of what was inside. It wasn't, but the inside door handle to our room did come off as Vic was trying to go out! Gotta have some laughs. They fixed it while we were at the memorial service.
Driving from the hotel we passed a very stark, isolated area with what looked like gravel pit after gravel pit. Eventually we did come to a quaint village of sorts and wound our way around to the resort. It was a very calm and serene atmosphere and like Vic said, surreal to see after so recently seeing all the happiness in Sharon's photos of the wedding. The entire place was decorated for fall. It was beautiful.
We thought the memorial service was going to be in that area and we were enjoying the warm sunshine and gentle breeze when Vic spotted a boat through the gazebo and we realized it was Alyn and family, including Ethan's dog.
They walked around and someone let us know the service would be in the Conference Center where they were greeting people by then. I've got to tell you, I don't know how Sharon made it up that incline from the gazebo, it was very steep! Everyone was so very friendly and inviting and glad we came. Ashley and Matt were inside already and we spoke with her a bit but she had many people to greet so we chatted a bit with Sharon's brother and found a seat. Everyone was so very friendly and inviting and expressed how glad they were that we came knowing how much Sharon's online family meant to her. Ashley knew we wanted to share with them and was very gracious about letting us take photos. At first all I saw was the table set up with a tribute to Sharon from the club and a photo of Sharon and Bob and the food set up.
As I was looking around I spotted the other display with her paintings. Seeing the gorgeous red urn surrounded by roses was what really hit me. And as others have stated, so fitting for Sharon.
You can see the painting Sharon did for Matt of his farmhouse on the right. And Vic reminded me of the painting of the cow Sharon attempted to do but finally gave up on because she couldn't get it right.
It was a very informal gathering with everyone being invited to tell us something about Sharon. You know how that goes, no one wants to be first! Alyn then stood up and specifically welcomed Vic and I as representatives for Sharon's online family and told everyone how happy they were that we came and that they were going through Sharon's computer pulling photos and stories off to another drive and hoped to be able to publish anything she had not gotten around to publishing. He joked about having to sort through all the photos and that Sharon had them all loose on the desktop of the computer. I told him that she was meaning to get around to sorting them all. I did let them know that because of the legal mumble jumble we had to start another cubit but that we hoped to be able to continue in Sharon's memory and welcome everyone as Sharon always did. Everyone who spoke also told of how Sharon had a way of making everyone feel special.
Later Alyn came over and spoke with Vic and I and offered anything we needed (photos, stories) and spoke again of publishing all the wonderful stories Sharon wrote. Ethan sat with him and we told him (and Alyn) of how we already knew them and watched Ethan grow up because of Sharon sharing with us. Ethan is a very sweet boy. Alyn's wife also thanked us again for coming and for getting Sharon's stories from DG. Vic told her Sally was the one to thank for that. Alyn said he knew they couldn't publish the articles that were from DG without changing them but of course, that involves time so time will tell.
Alyn did clarify that Sharon was responsive after the stroke and they thought she was improving but the swelling came on so fast they lost her that afternoon. And Ashley did tell us that Sunshine was very happy because she has a fenced area to run around in and a doghouse, and she comes inside at night. And Daisy is doing well too. Ashley really does look a lot like Sharon, she is beautiful! And best of all, they told us Sharon's ashes will be spread on her mountains back home. So Sharon will be going home.
And a fitting closing, as we were driving out there were several young deer frolicking among the trees on the hill.
My hope is, we can continue in her honor and keep this family going, sharing, laughing, crying and remembering with the new "Sharon Friends" cubits which will be up and running soon. I beieve that is what Sharon would want.
