Rita's Wish Come True

The Endoscopy Unit where I spend my weekdays has a great bunch of people working there. We are a close knit group, with several "in groups"...smaller groups of folks who share each others lives and yet we all come together as a whole, to work, to have fun and to share each others lives outside work. In different ways and intervals folks gather to meet family, friends, pets... a big plus in our unit is the shared love of pets...cats, dogs, fish, horses, birds. At various times for various reasons we gather during off hours to eat. We choose someones home or a restaurant, join together and fill the place with laughter and jovial visiting. Eating out is a wonderful celebration of togetherness.

Rita always wanted us to gather at her favorite Italian restaurant in St. Albans. She loved Chow Bella. Rita lived much farther north of Burlington than any of us. Most of the staff live in or closer to Burlington, so restaurants were chosen that best suited the majority. Monday night after work, all but 3 staff joined to celebrate Rita at Chow Bella. Vacations and children's responsibilities prevented the three from coming. Our manager called ahead with our numbers and reason for going. Chow Bella was ready and waiting for us. They knew the occasion for our gathering and were kind and supportive. A couple nurses wanted to drink a toast to Rita, so ordered Tequila. The waiter didn't know the bar that well, and brought shots of gin instead. They celebrated never-the-less. Tables were set up in a U formation so we could all see and visit with one another, 27 of us.We feasted on the best the restaurant had to offer and reminisced about good times. As the evening wore on, the waitress came in and gently reminded us we had an appointment, I guess none of us were ready for the wake.

We collected our belongings and in groups of 4 and 5 drove 3 blocks to the funeral home for Rita's wake. The place was jam packed with people offering condolences and love for the family. It took us over 30 minutes standing in line to get to the room where the wake was being held. Flowers filled the entire funeral home. In the room where Rita lay, someone took several of her wonderfully ornate and elaborate pocket books and filled them with flowers for arrangements. It was perfect. Photo albums of Rita as a child, growing up, as a mother and grandmother were strategically placed. Rita's 5 children and their spouses stood exhausted, bravely greeting the hundreds of guests. Rita's elderly mother had positioned herself proudly and lovingly by her daughter's side, comforting mourners and praising her daughter for the wonderful person she was. For me, seeing Rita's mother standing there, greeting all those people, with a smile and wistful glances at her daughter lying in that casket was almost more than I could bear. A mother burying her daughter just is not the natural order of things. The outpouring of love, the flowers and mementos of the fun loving person Rita was helped bring us back into control and eased the grief for everyone. After hugs and tears and some slow deep breaths, we left to go home.

Well Rita, we did it! We made your wish come true. We all gathered at Chow Bella's for a fabulous meal, and you were right, it was very very good! We miss you Rita, you will not be forgotten.

Grace and peace to you all. Thank you for the kindness of allowing me to share the loss of our friend Rita.