The Farewell Party

People were dressed in their finest outfits. The spread looked amazing; a grazing table covered in delicatessens, a sweets table that all of the family had pitched in to create. And an array of afternoon tea platters, sandwiches and quiches were being taken around to guests. Everyone had really gone all out for the farewell party.

The music was quite tasteful, a harp, a piano and a violin. These were Linda’s favourite and she knew exactly what songs she wanted to set the tone.

Linda was dressed in the most beautiful red silk gown with purple roses, she wore a shawl over her shoulders, this was a classic Linda look. She was wearing only a touch of blush on her cheeks, her sister Meredith said she shouldn’t be looking like a lady of the night and her hair was pinned in a classic beehive. All the guests thought Linda looked astounding, when they greeted her they each held her hands so as to not let her go, they kissed her so gently on the cheek and each had something sentimental to whisper into her ear.

At the clinking sound of a champagne glass being prompted for a toast, everyone raised their glasses ‘to Linda’. How wonderful to see so many of her near and dear family and friends. Her aunt Ida had not been to town in the last 4 years yet here she was. Her brother Bruce lived just two towns away but was always too busy to make the trip up to see Linda but he made the special trip to be by her side today. Linda’s children, her nieces, nephews and grandchildren turned out to show how much they loved her today. This truly would have been a family moment to photograph if any.

People travelled from near and far to give speeches. The stories went on and on, so many memories, so little time to share them. The crowd was in laughter at one point, a story involving Linda milking a cow seemed to be a crowd pleaser.

Linda’s husband Daniel and their son Matt spent most of the farewell party keeping to themselves. After all, they were around all the time, it was all these people who turned out for the party today that had not been to see Linda or call her in years. Today Daniel and Matt couldn’t seem to find a moment alone with Linda.

Daniel kept himself busy tending to the catering but was constantly shunned out of the kitchen and encouraged to mingle with the guests, while Matt had to listen to aunt Ida’s many many stories. Poor Linda couldn’t do anything about the fact that people were making a fuss over her. Her cousin Joan had a few too many chardonnay’s and was reminiscing the ‘good ole days’ rather loudly, she caught the attention of the entire room several times. Just as aunt Ida began the story of how she taught Linda how to sew, the doorbell rang. Matt took the chance to escape the conversation, breathing out a sigh of relief as he was saved by the bell. He met a delivery man at the front door, in hand a bouquet of flowers for Linda from her boss, Steve who was out of town at present and unable to attend the party.

At the end of the day Matt and Daniel took Linda another bunch of her favourite carnations that she had asked specifically for today. Daniel fell to his knees at the sight of his beautiful wife of 47 years covered beneath the soil and the many tributes others had left. Matt rested a hand on his father’s shoulders and whispered “it’ll be alright dad, it’ll be alright.”

Daniel held her hand throughout her entire sickness and he stayed by her side every day up until the very moment Linda’s last breath was gone from her body.

Matt and Daniel returned home to an empty house filled with endless memories of their beloved Linda. The Farewell party was now over, the farewell party that was a communal meeting ground for all the visitors Linda never had when she was alive. The Farewell party that Linda never got to see.