Funeral

This weekend was very strange. On friday no one was home all day and then everyone returned together at about midnight, I didn't ask where they had been because it didn't really seem that important. 

Saturday I had school in the morning and then went off with some friends to go to a museum (it was our homework, like I'd voluntarily go to a museum! haha) and then to buy books for English. When I got back to the house, again, no one was home, so I decided that I would go back to school and swim, despite the torrential rain. At the school  was greeted by one of the security guards who told me that I could swim if I wanted to but the pool closed in 15 minutes. So I promptly turned around and headed back to the bus stop. Fun times in the rain. 

Mama and my brothers and sisters got home at about midnight again, so I asked them where they had been. Mama explained that there had been a death in the family, she didn't say much else. 

This morning we went to the funeral service. It was Mama's aunt, my great aunt, who had passed away. she was obviously well loved because the service was packed. I don't think they could have picked a better place to hold it. The graveyard was on a huge hill that overlooked Quito, the room had an entire wall of glass, it was truly spectacular. The view from that room was second only to the one from the top of the Teleferico. You could see all the mountains that surround Quito and the volcanoes in the distance. The valley looked like a huge bowl submerged in clouds, it was clear blue skies on our side of the mountains and completely overcast on the other, a few rogue clouds spilling over the edge and into the basin.

The service was long, with lots of singing and instrumentals. I was introduced to countless family members and friends, none of whose names I remember. 

There is something strange about open-casket funerals, every one goes to look, many gasp and turn away, some wail, and other seem mesmerized, but everyone immediately starts crying. I watched several people make their second and third visits, their reactions unchanging. "A crowd of people turned away, but I just had to look" (A Day In the Life). The whole idea is just not for me. Watching a old man close his sister's casket has got to be one of the saddest things I have ever bore witness to. 

After the funeral it was the usual sunday routine, out to lunch then back to Aunt Susy's apartment where I just slept the rest of the after noon.