FINAL ARRANGEMENTS

I haven’t visited my grandmother’s farmhouse since her funeral, and from what I’ve been told, there’s a sealed envelope with my name on it, lying on her dresser. I already know that she made me the “official” family archivist, giving me access to negatives, slides, photographs, and documents she had accumulated over an eighty-five year period. I already have her handwritten stories of memorable family events, as well as access to those unmentionable family secrets—so yes—I’m very curious to see what she had written; her words will definitely have a permanent impact. It still amazes me how everyone could temporarily suspend their feudal wars to celebrate her life and agree to her final wishes regarding my new role.

Again, I give you her story “Delma Jane.”