Keywords
Uncle Ben, Funeral
Document Type
Essay
Description
The day of my Uncle Ben's burial service is hot and humid, typical of early July in Ohio, except for the wind, which blows in like a blast furnace. We arrived at my parents' house late the night before and I am exhausted from the two-day drive from Utah to Ohio. Sweat runs in rivulets down my back as I unstrap my four-weekold baby boy from his car seat. My husband Cory unbuckles our three-year-old daughter and she runs around the car to grab my hand, shy and unsure, especially around so many people. Our older sons, eight and ten, restless from the long drive, run off to play with their cousins. My baby's warm body against my chest feels oppressive in the heat, but also serves as a form of protection. He is my shield against a certain amount of social obligation. I am relieved when he needs me to leave the crowd to feed him, change him, or soothe his cries.
Recommended Citation
Talbot, Heather
(2018)
"Uncle Ben,"
Inscape: Vol. 38:
No.
2, Article 12.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/inscape/vol38/iss2/12