A Celetory plan
The celebration of Margaret “Maggie” Ellison (fictional)
This plan records personal wishes. It is not a legal directive.
At a glance
Maggie taught third grade for thirty-one years and never stopped asking good questions. She is the one who remembers birthdays, brings soup, and laughs loudest at her own jokes. Her garden, her book club, and Sunday dinners with her grandchildren are where she feels most like herself.
My three most important wishes
- 1.Hold it outdoors, ideally in a garden, in the late afternoon.
- 2.More stories and laughter than speeches.
- 3.Serve my lemon cake — the recipe is in the blue tin.
Part 1
Who I am and the feel
Tone and atmosphere
Warm and unhurried, like a long summer supper. A few quiet moments, then lots of laughter. People should leave feeling lighter, and maybe call someone they love on the way home.
Photos and stories
The year the class hamster escaped during parent night and Maggie gave the whole tour on her hands and knees, pretending it was planned. She still says it was the best parent night she ever ran.
Part 2
The gathering
Location and guests
- Portland, Oregon area
- Community garden on Alder Street, or a family backyard
- If it rains: the library meeting room where book club met
Around 60 people. Family, former students and colleagues, book club, garden friends. Livestream for cousins in Ireland.
Locations are preferences. Nothing has been booked or confirmed.
Run of show
About 145 minutes of programming.
- ~20 min
Welcome, lemonade and music
guests arrive and settle in
- ~10 min
Opening words
Daughter Anna, if she'd like to
- ~35 min
Open storytelling
Anyone can share a memory
- ~5 min
Reading: “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Grandson Theo (preference, not confirmed)
- ~15 min
Seed planting
Guests plant a marigold to take home
- ~60 min
Supper and lemon cake
Speakers and roles
Names are preferences. No one has been contacted or confirmed.
- Coordinator: Anna (daughter)
- Backup coordinator: Ruth from book club
- A celebrant could help if Anna prefers not to leadSuggestion
Music, readings and personal touches
Music
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong as people arrive
- “What a Wonderful World” to close
- A playlist is fine — live music only if it's easy
Readings
- “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Personal touches
- Marigold seed packets for guests to plant
- A table of my favorite children's books to take home
- Wear bright colors — please, no black
- Donations to the school library fund
Part 3
Practical details
Budget and priorities
Modest. Spend on good food and flowers before anything else. A venue fee is fine if the garden isn't possible.
A checklist for loved ones
- Read the most important wishes together— Anna
- Contact book club and garden friends— Ruth
- Check availability of the community garden (nothing is booked)— Anna
- Bake lemon cake — recipe in the blue tin
- Set up the livestream for family abroad— Theo
Contacts
Contact details are kept privately with the planner's answers.
Open decisions and flexible preferences
Still to be decided
Whether to hire a celebrant
Exact date and season
Feel free to change
- The order of the afternoon
- Which friends speak first
- Indoor plan if the weather turns
A message to everyone
Thank you for every story, every dinner, every time you laughed at my jokes even when they weren't funny. Go plant something. Be kind to each other.