Yesterday was Benjamin’s memorial gathering with family.  It was very peaceful and comforting.  Everyone looked at his picture (the one from last post) and talked about how handsome he is, and of course I agree.

At our last meeting, the psychiatrist asked what I thought after meeting him, and I told her I couldn’t believe that I’d had a hand in making someone quite so beautiful.  I knew I’d find him beautiful, but how could he be that beautiful?  And that all the things that were medically imperfect inside of him didn’t matter; he was absolutely perfect in my eyes.

Today the rain is pouring down, and it’s not supposed to stop until tomorrow morning.  My brother said it’s just like the day after Pop Pop’s funeral:  all the angels are crying.  I’d like to think that it’s because they’ve gotten to know him over the past week, and now know why we miss him so much.

Our friends in Arizona were having a fundraising carwash this weekend, but have had trouble finding a location – so it has been bumped to next week.  In lieu, they’ve asked that Sunday be Pay It Forward for Benjamin Day.  Pay for the cup of coffee for the person in line behind you.  Pull your neighbor’s weeds just because.  Offer to babysit for free so that a couple can go out on a date.  And if they ask why, tell them about Benjamin – and that if he can do what he did for 15 minutes, then we can do anything for 15 minutes.

This picture is from the memorial – a tree that Eddie and my mom made.  The leaves are fingerprints of the people who were there, with room saved for Arizona friends and family.