My Last Christmas Card for Mom

My Last Christmas Card for Mom

This was the 2005 Christmas Card for Mom which she never got to see
because she passed away on Christmas Day at 12:15 am. I placed it in
the box with her urn during her burial at 10 am, January 2, 2006 at
Skylawn Memorial Park. Other mementos included were a small box
of pine needles with three seashells from Tahiti, a smooth oval pebble
from Aegis Gardens (where Mom enjoyed her exercises), a Tibetan lotus
jewelry, my poem for Mom "A Good Heart", and three art postcards.
I quoted Mom's favorite philosopher, Wang Yang Ming, on the back
of the Kuan Yin postcard. Elisa wrote a warm touching letter to Po-Po on
the back of the "Lute-playing Angel" card. Marissa did likewise on the
back of Renoir's "Girl Reading" card. Emily wrote a message on a red
origami crane. Emily, Marissa, and Byron folded 97 paper cranes and
poured them into the box with Mom's urn. Marissa also placed a glass
vial containing a 4-leaf clover and a photo of Po-Po with Gung-Gung
in my envelope containing the art cards & Christmas card. The rain was
pouring down heavily during the burial at Skylawn. After the tractor
covered Mom's box next to Dad's with dirt, we placed roses and flowers
from some dozen floral wreaths & baskets surrounding Mom's grave site.
I read my poem "Gratitude Quartet" which I stayed up all night writing.
Good-bye Mom— Peace be with you, and may the Angel of Peace
sing sweetly to you and Dad and bless both of you always.