Brazoria County, TX was surprisingly pleasant this weekend. The weather was nice and relatively cool - the humidity levels were such that SCUBA gear not was required to be outside. The San Benard River was lovely as always with the mud-rich waters and the fresh water barnicle swell in the air. And so it was that the Garrison family convened to the family’s Mecca/river house on a late March weekend for my grandmother’s funeral.
Friday night was a nice BBQ dinner at a family friend’s newly finished palace on The Benard. The master of the palace, Royce Sharp Sr. (father to the not-so-famous U of M/US Olympic swimmer), gave me a personal demonstration of his latest home improvement achievement. He has installed a communications router in a closet which rivals many small/medium office server rooms in terms of functionality and professionalism. The entire house (including all bathrooms) are networked with data, voice and video lines. Royce is in constant competition with the next door neighbor, my uncle, who owns the most expensive and coveted home on The Benard as of the date on this post. Royce has one-up’ed Bruce on the home networking aspect as well as a more fully featured home theater, a larger kitchen with full size Sub Zero fridge/freezer and wine cooler, and an automated security gate to help keep out the worst Brazoria County has to offer.
After Friday night’s “twin Sub-Z’s” showdown, the family spent Saturday morning bonding over yard work at the family’s house. This is what living in this area is all about. Working in the yard is neither a necessity nor a “chore”. It is a lifestyle. Some may enjoy getting out into the yard to mow the lawn twice a week, precision bomb fire-ant beds, battle snakes and possums for regional yard control, clean mold off of the house, weed-eat the weeds, edge the edges with the edger, rake leaves, plant flowers, water plants, and sweep the frontbackporchdeckpier.
Right now, I prefer the yard work at my condo: nada. Maybe that will change.
After accomplishing the morning chores, the Chapelwood minister came out to the house to interview my mom and uncles. The minister brought with him, enough food to feed the homeless people in my neighborhood for weeks, especially if you consider the calorie/fat intake from the fried chicken. I forgot this was how things were done down there. It was as comforting as the food was to know there were people thinking about our family (even if they weren’t thinking about our cholesterol).
Throughout the weekend, there were no tears or somber moments. I only witnessed laughter, constant conversation over Fox News coverage of the war and the “mmms” and “ahhhs” with each 90+ bottle from the wine room that was opened. I always thought it was a sham that my uncle turned my grandfather’s old dark room into a wine cellar. I guess the frat boy enjoys alcohol more than art. On Sunday, my cousin Jill somehow distracted me from The Oscars so I could look through everyone of the 500+ pictures from her wedding that she did not invite me to. Like most wedding pictures I have ever looked at, they sucked. They all looked lame and boring with the exception of an impromp-tu walk on the beach in front of the Del Coronado Hotel in Dan San Diego. Even with this glimmer of hope, I am afraid she is destined to join the ranks of the ordinary. She started her new job with The Devil last week.
The way my family handled everything should have been documented carefully for anyone wanting a fitting tribute to their deceased loved ones. The service was beautiful - a moving performance on the harp from an old friend of the immediate family, another vocal soloist at the secret request of my grandmothers as well as eulogies from my dad and uncle. My brother and I served as pallbearers…I know Gigi would have been proud of all of us. There was a large turnout at the service, burial and after party at the river house. That really spoke to me as did the stories from the eulogies. My grandmother had done something special for our family by setting down roots in the community that I often times loathe. Our family has 43 years of memories on The San Benard and I am sure many more to come…my parents have recently purchased property on the river.
I had a great time catching up with my family - which for those who know me well, may come as a surprise. Everyone seemed quite interested in what I was doing at school and wanted to know what they should be watching in the theater. My uncle, Bruce, who has seemed distant over the past few years, talked to me for a long time about school, future plans and the new Range Rovers - he and Jeff (his partner/lifemate) bought his and his 03′ Rovers last month. “They aren’t quite the creampuff ride like the LX 470 is, but they’re a lot tougher…just what we need them for.”
I met my cousin Claire’s husband for the first time, even after attending their wedding two years ago. Ferrell and I had an interesting conversation on the evils of Wall Street and the slaughter of the energy trading market at the hands of hedge fund companies. He used to work for The Devil.
My oldest cousin, Melanie, who claims she is “pretty mainstream” talked with me for a long time over the joys of Six Feet Under and what I’ve been learning in school. Her daughter, Katie, was very impressed that I was “studying to become a director” and insisted that I have her work on my next film. I’ve got one fan and counting…
Today, I left my parents in the airport and headed for the Blue Line to run home and try to make it to class on time. I felt a sense of depression…seperation anxiety. I had been overwhelmed with love and fellowship from my family this weekend and I wasn’t ready for it to stop. I hope that whatever Gigi’s departure from our Universe has triggered in our family lasts for years to come. I am excited about my family again.
I was just listening to Lake Trout - Let Me Show You What I’m Used To
