I had two choices in my car: turn left to go to the cemetery, or turn right to go to the snowball stand.
I had just left my brother's house where he, one of our sisters, and I had met with a rep about ordering Mamma Gina's headstone - finally.
Already feeling pretty crappy that she's been dead for eight months and her grave is still unmarked ... I was now feeling pretty crappy thinking in disbelief how both of our beautiful parents are gone. How did that happen?
While we were on that topic, I felt obligated to stop by the graveyard at Saint Joseph Church in Fullerton. Yet who likes doing that? I rarely visit graveyards. Although I think they are beautiful and peaceful ... "a field of angels" I call them, and I make the Sign of the Cross on myself each time I pass one ... my beloved family members and friends are not there anyway. I know where they are.
I visit Dragonfly Debbie's grave only once a year - on her November 6th birthday. That's it. I refuse to sadden myself by crying while standing over someone I love buried in dirt. I choose to be with, and talk to them, in other more cheerful scenarios.
I already had tears in my eye and on my heart after that headstone meeting. Yet it was too beautiful of a sunny Wednesday afternoon to feel sad at my parents' gravesite.
So as I drove up the road and faced those 2 directional choices ... a right to the snowball stand where I would enjoy fond memories of me and my Daddy going many times to that same stand on hot summer evenings ... or a left to Saint Joseph's cemetery to stand there crying over the loss of my parents.
I knew they wouldn't want that. They are happy where they are; they do not wish for me to feel sad.
I heard my father's voice ... "C'mon, let's go get a snowball." So I decided on that happier option.
I ordered fireball with marshmallow. Dad would have ordered his standard egg custard, no marshmallow.
During our days, snippeteers, we are going to deal with some happy stuff, some sad stuff, and on most days - every emotion in between.
But when you have the choice to do something happy ... turn in that direction.
