All right, I've hung around in limbo for long enough

[grammargirl]

On my way home.

Funeral's tomorrow at 3:00, visitation starts at 12:30 for immediate family.

I've never seen a dead person before. I suspect that this will not be a terribly pleasant initiation into such things.

Bleh.

I'm going to be in dire need of snuggling come Sunday.

Don't expect any holiday cheer from me for a while, ok?

Comments

[shawnj.livejournal.com]

I know that I'm not exactly in a position to give advice, but I recently went through the loss of a grandparent (technically a great-grandparent, but he was close despite that). I saw his body twice. Once from across the room, and once in the procession for all of five seconds. The procession was hard. I found writing about it helped (If you want to read what I wrote after the funeral, it's here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/shawnj/379853.html).

But my advice is this. If you don't want to see the body, you shouldn't have to. Of course, I don't know your family at all, so they may not accept that. I was lucky. I simply stated that I wanted to remember Grandpa like he was, and seeing him in a coffin would be burned into the back of my head. And I didn't want to have it in my head, despite the fact that it's him. No one pressed once. If you really want to look, I would suggest looking from far away first, and moving closer as you get comfortable.

As far as the procession goes, it will be rough. But, it's expected to be rough. Everyone is allowed to mourn, and no one will look at you any differently if you lose it in there. It's natural to do so.

You don't know me from Adam, but I feel for you. I've been there.

[stevenglassman.livejournal.com]

::hug::