IT TURNED OUT OK...................

Yesterday, July 5th, was the service for my cousin Ken. Dad picked me up at 9:30 and we headed over to the other county to our hometown. With Ken gone, there's only one family member left in that town and he's talking about leaving. Helped the rest of us to get out of there. But, I digress.
We got to the funeral home and there were a lot of people standing outside in little groups. The 'two thieves' (his daughters) and the a$$hole husband were the first to go in and the rest were just talking and visiting in the heat. I got and gave hugs all around to the cousins and then I walked in with Dad behind me. We signed in and I went up to the girls, gave them both hugs just because of Ken, ignored the a$$hole, and sat down. Dad didn't even acknowledge them. Ken's siblings then stood in a line with his girls and a$$hole and there must've been 300 people come thru. Some family I didn't know, a lot of in-laws that are now outlaws. Luckily, another cousin was sitting with me and if I saw someone that looked familiar, he knew who it was.
After that dog and pony show was over, everyone went over to the club in town that Ken was a member of. Their auxiliary was providing a meal, so we sat over there and visited and told family tales. Then his daughters and family came in, went over to the other side of the room and sat at that table. No one from 'our' side messed with them. So sad.
After a while, I saw someone bring in a banjo and a guitar. Next thing you know, my cousin Jim and two of his buddies were up there pickin and a grinnin for the next three hours. Oh what fun that was. My dad really enjoyed himself, and I got to talk to a lot of people and get family data for the tree. All in all, it worked out OK. But, I'm glad its over. I think it brought us closer together, and that's a good thing.