We picked up moms ashes the other day. It was Sunday afternoon. I made some noise outside the establishments door, blowing my nose, as my allergies were full-on, full-force. The door opened and one of the proprietresses of the establishment asked if we needed anything.

I haven't seen that much cleavage in a LONG time. Yes,she was wearing nice black slacks and yes the blouse was nice, but ...ahhh.. Right. Oooohhh-kay.

We went inside. The woman was perfectly helpful, no issues there at all. The office was right across from the little chapel, and I glanced in. Obviously, there was to be a viewing, as the casket was right there. The families choice of music was playing over the building sound system.

Garth Brooks, I think was one of the singers. Hank Williams, Jr. was another and I was sort of OK with it until the song "Cheater, Cheater" came on. That's right, the song with the lyrics....

oh never mind, just go to YouTube and look it up. It's actually kind of funny, but you know...like in context, maybe?

As we were leaving, the guests were entering for the viewing. All of the men wore blue jeans, most had on t-shirts. some were more or less clean, some weren't. Out in the parking lot a couple of girls in crop tops and tight jeans were smoking and screaming at each other, using a lot of four letter words.

And I just had to think....

We're going to have a memorial open house for Mom. I loved my mother in law, I miss her and when I gather with my family and friends to remember her, I'm for hella sure not going to be playing "Cheater, Cheater" on the family stereo, and I'm going to put a little effort into looking decent. Heck, Joans brother Marc actually went out and bought a new jacket, tie and shirt combination just for the Open House. He's a handsome guy, he'll look nice.

It's not going to be stuffy. We'll look at Moms art, and I know Joan will cry and I'm going to stand in the room in which she died and remember our last words and hugs. I'm going to look at pictures of Mom, sweaty and dirty on family backpacking trips and covered with clay as she worked on her art in the garage. Mom's art friends will be there, including some of the models that pose for her figure drawing class, and the young women and men...now not quite so young, that were her students. We will laugh and remember.

Just because I will look decent doesn't mean it will be boring and stuffy.

I dunno. I'm sure those folks in the muscle shirts and crop tops were nice folks. I'ms ure they loved their granddad. But I dunno. I don't get it.