It's All Relative!

Ruth and I attended her Uncle Doug's funeral last Tuesday. We just made it on time after a
2 1/2 hour drive to Blenheim. We were ushered very quickly into a room off to the side of the sanctuary of the church where the funeral was taking place. This was the " family" room. I felt a little awkward, because I didn't feel like I deserved to be there for some reason. There were probably many people in the audience that knew uncle Doug better than I did. When it was time to start the service, just a few minutes later after some instructions from the minister and the funeral director, we were led into the front two rows reserved for the family. It was a nice service. Uncle Doug was in the choir, so we sung a few of his favorite hymns. The minister gave a good summery of his life and labeled him a " balcony person". Balcony people are down to earth types and historically, back in the days when you had to pay for seating, these were the "cheap" seats because they were the farthest from the heat source, which would have been a wood stove. Uncle Doug stood 6' 6" tall, so his shadow would cover the pulpit where the minister was. There was no grave side service since he was being cremated and the snow from the day before. After the service, there was a reception in the church auditorium, where the church ladies had sandwiches and other goodies for us. Uncle Doug was a farmer in a small town and I think all 400 of them showed up to pay their respects to the family. I knew almost nobody except for the immediate family, which I have only seen about 6 times in the past 12 years. Ruth on the other hand had a longer history after growing up with this family. She had people coming up to her saying " Ruthie, it's been such a long time, do you remember me?" Ruth had no clue who half these people were, but played along very well as if she did, and then she introduced me to them! Like the Farqueson. These are the relatives on Grandma Tolls side ( Ruth's dads mom). I asked to meet Charlie Farqueson, and got a rather dirty look, after finding out the guy who does the comedy stole that name from their Grandfather. They were just kidding though. A fun bunch. All in all it was a bitter sweet time. We said goodbye to Uncle Doug. He is with Jesus now. At the same time, Ruth got to reconnect with family and friends she has not seen for years.


On another subject. I need to take a poll. Who makes turkeys? Every year Ruth and I have this discussion. Her personal preference is " Butterball" and I usually like "PC", because they are cheaper. You know the self-basting ones. The "Butterball" is stuffed though. I actually picked a Butterball this year because it is stuffed and you can cook it from frozen and we got it at the Barn , not Fortinos. She thinks the Butterball is better than the PC. I say "God" makes turkey, not Butterball or PC so how can one be better than the other? All they do is dress it and stick butter under the skin so it melts while cooking, hence the self basting.
Which turkey do you buy and why?
Ruth's says, yes God makes turkeys and I am one of them! lol. ( Not Really)
She says I am her "Butterball"!