Serendipity

It was Sunday morning, the day after dad’s service.  Our immediate family had made it back to the house in one piece after a few too many adult beverages to help settle one of the most unsettling days of our lives.  As the house refilled with the weeks familiar faces of close family and friends it was determined that some greasy, unbelievably unhealthy hangover food was in order.  Off went my brother and his girlfriend to McDonalds.  We all just sat and stared.  With the service over an odd feeling was looming about the house.  That debilitating question running through our minds: what now? The house was quit and relatively still. 

It was when the McDonalds arrived that a little laughter began to fill the air.  Brian and Chardae walked in with more McDonalds than I can ever remember seeing at one time.  They, almost in disgust, informed us that we ordered $82.00 worth of burgers and fries.  Okay, that is slightly disturbing, but funny at the same time.  They then proceed to announce that they ordered it through the drive-thru.  Laughter took over as they discussed their $82.00 drive-thru experience. 

Eventually someone decided to get out the guest book from the service.  We talked about who was there, whom we saw and whom we missed.  We were humbled and honored by everyone who was there.  I wish I could tell you who read this out loud, but I can't. All I remember is it was the BEST thing I had heard since Tuesday.  It made my insides hurt from laughing, it gave me a mission for the rest of the day, and it was my obsession.  Every person who entered my parent’s house that day had to stop and look and hear my laughter.  I could not get enough.

Three-quarters of the way down one of the guest pages was this signature:

 Carol Anne and the Spirit Serendipity Doo-Dah

Wait! Who? What! I was laughing so hard I could hardly stand it.  I set off on a mission to find out who this person was that would sign such a ridiculous thing in a funeral guest book.  I texted my dad’s colleagues, I questioned anyone and everyone I could, but the Spirit Serendipity Doo-Dah remained a mystery.  At first I was sort of irked by this.  Who, in their right mind, would write such a thing?  However, as the day wore on I realized that whoever this person was offered me a gift.  On this heartbreaking and confusing day she gave me laughter.  A little something else to focus some attention on besides the “Dan sized hole” in my heart.  My mystery was eventually solved and it made me appreciate it even more. I will forever be grateful to Carol Anne and her dog’s spirit…. Serendipity Doo-Dah.