Today, I decided to face tomorrow. Tomorrow is Carlton’s Donor Mass. Oh, it isn’t just for him – it is for all of this academic year cadavers. I am guessing maybe 75 or 80.
I have been a little apprehensive about this. But, the apprehension seems to be lessening as the day gets closer. I only get one chance to do this. So, I decided to make a test run over to Georgetown this morning – after breakfast and laundry.
Walk to bus. Bus to metro. Metro to Rosslyn. Walk to Georgetown. Up The Exorcist stairs. Find tomorrow’s venue. All Good.
Then I explored around the Hospital/Medical School. And, I found one of the old “Party Animals” – leftover from a fun public art project in 2002 – when politics was still relatively civil.
The elephant, named Wisdom, is covered in wishes from cancer patients.
Tomorrow – I will – Shut Up, Suit Up and Show Up – as Carlton would tell me to do. And I will wear an old cheongsam “split up to there”. (Carlton was a big fan of Bill Callahan – the man only knows 5 cords – but Carlton liked all 5 of them – and he liked “Dress Sexy at My Funeral”.) I can not be disrespectful. Because, this isn’t about me. Or about Carlton. It really is about the kids. The first year medical students. The cheongsam isn’t that sexy. But, it is the best I can do, Carlton. Because, dear man, I am old. And, the ain’t nothing sexy about old.
I wonder if they are going to give me a little box with Carlton inside? Will he come home on the bus on my lap. I think I take a big purse. I figure a cremated a Carlton will weigh about 4.5 pounds. And, I plan on putting him in a flat rate box and sending him to Kona next fall. Legally, he is supposed to be mailed Express rate not flat rate. But I have a friend who shipped her hubby to Kona in a flat rate box with some dominoes. Her hubby was pretty cheap. Just like Carlton. Well, that is all wreckage of the future.
So, Carlton is finished with his final service of this lifetime. I will be with you in spirit, Peggy, and in love.