Page 19 of Your Soul to Keep

“I could share her favorite Bible verses with you, but Nan was a firm believer in closet prayer. Her faith was both private and personal.

“I could tell you how much I’m going to miss her and how positively shattered,” my voice broke, “I am to be here without her, but I’d never reach the end of my speech. Besides, if she was here, she’d say, “Stop your blattin.’ Sure, don’t we all pass eventually?”

Scattered sniffles and soft chuckles sounded throughout the room.

“But I will miss her.

“I’ll miss her telling me a lady puts on lipstick before leaving the house. I wore it especially for her today.

“I’ll miss her pointing out every handsome man within spitting distance. Including Father Donnelly.”

More laughter rang out. I found him in the room, and he grinned at me. Laughing, I shook my head and thought about his wife.

Lucky, lucky woman.

“I’ll miss her berating me for wearing jeans and t-shirts, and I’ll never forget her yelling at me as I walked out the door, ‘Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph, Shae, would it kill you to show a bit of leg?”

Stepping away from the podium, I lifted my leg to show that I had indeed worn a skirt that Nan would have considered scandalously short for church.

There you go, Nan.

I looked up to find the entire hall wreathed in smiles.

My face flamed as several people clapped, and I caught Gabe’s naughty wink before ducking back behind the podium to finish.

“Instead of crying, we are going to give Nan the send-off she deserves.

“If you would be so kind as to raise a glass to my Nan.”

My hand shook as I held up my whiskey.

“To my Nan.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,

Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

I knocked back a healthy gulp and hugged my glass to my chest.

“And a ‘wee message’ from my nan, because God knows she always had to have the last word.”

Murmurings of affectionate agreement gave me strength to finish in the spirit of my Nan.

I raised my glass and my voice to offer Nan’s blessing to all of her friends.

“May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

---