Death, Funerals and Family Dysfunction

People say that death brings out the worse aspects of families and mine is sadly no exception. Many people have asked for details on my mother's funeral so that they could pay their respects, send flowers or whatever they might want to do to honor my mother's memory. Thus, I am writing to update these friends and wonderfully supportive readers on the situation. After much thought and as a result of family confrontations that I do not want to elaborate upon, I will be having a separate memorial service at a date and location later in the month that will be disclosed once the plans are finalized.

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Although I will not be attending either one, there will also a Catholic funeral mass in Charlottesville on January 15, 2011 and a grave side service on January 16, 2011, in Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers friends and readers are welcomed to make a donation in memory/honor of my mother, Marion Hibben Phelps Hamar to a charity of their choice. One charity that I might suggest is Hospice House of the Piedmont (pictured above) where my mother spent her last few days. Contact information is as follows:
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Hospice of the Piedmont
675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300
Charlottesville, VA 22911

If anyone does decide to make a donation, include my mother's name and use my name and office address as the point of notification. Donations can be made online here.

A New Political Generation

My youngest daughter has grown up around politics, but nonetheless it was inspiring to have her call me last night as she and many other Virginia Commonwealth Students joined in an impromptu celebration in the area around the VCU campus in Richmond, the one time capital of the Confederate States of America. The excitement and enthusiasm from the crowd could be heard in the background as she talked to me excitedly. Here's how a Richmond TV station described it:

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RICHMOND, VA (NBC12) - Thousands of students and supporters filled downtown Richmond, celebrating the win of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. Broad Street was shut down from Belvidere to Lombardy streets. Richmond police estimate around two thousand people particpated in a peaceful and excited walk up the streets of Richmond. VCU students made up most of the crowd.

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The crowd cheered for Obama, and cheered change for the nation.They waved flags and Obama signs and marched down Broad Street from the Siegel Center down to the State Capitol. It was at the site of the State Capitol where they sang the Star- Spangled Banner.

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Those that spoke to NBC12 said they felt their vote counted, that this was a time of change, some being first time, young voters, and that they were happy at the outcome of this election. The crowd was peaceful, of a mix of ages and race, and those that spoke to NBC12 just expressed their excitement in this election.