Satomi's Cancer Blog

More questions and hopefully more answers.

I was told this morning that a 529 Education Savings plan is being organized for Kandice and Jillian by some of our friends.  I’ll report back when I get more information.

There will be a table for “koden” at the entry to the chapel.  [“Koden” is the Japanese tradition of giving money at funerals.]  PLEASE, PLEASE BE SURE TO PUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE BACK OF THE CARD.

Anyone with a card missing this information will have to fill out the “Koden Book”.  The minute or two it takes to write in your name and address can be quite stressful with a line of people behind you.

Satomi supported the Susan G Koman for the Cure Foundation.  If you wish to make a donation to this worthy cause, go to their website at  http://www.ockomen.com.

Here is their donation form:  KOMEN DONATION FORM

She did not know of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  I think it safe to say that she’d also be supportive of that cause but I have no information on a specific group.

I wanted to discuss the days events so all of you can be best prepared to enjoy the festivities.  I am being my normal over-anal self so we can be better prepared to handle a larger crowd.

The formal service is at 10:00am and is mostly traditional.  There will be prayers and some eulogies from several different people from her life.  It is followed by words of comfort and appreciation.  We expect for the service to be about 60 minutes up to this point.  Then its your turn-the final tribute begins.

Groups of attendees will be selected by the mortuary attendants and directed up the center aisle to view Satomi and greet all of us.  The order of viewing is based purely on seating and typically starts from farthest to nearest.  Keep in mind that “farthest” may mean “across-the-courtyard-in-the-other-building”.  In other words, if you got a seat up front, you will see Satomi last so be prepared for a long sit.

I am told it takes 15 minutes for 100 people to complete the cycle of viewing and greeting.  If 400 is an accurate figure, that’s a solid hour of viewing and greeting.  Be sure to pay attention to the attendants!

It is important to keep moving so don’t dilly-dally!  It is entirely possible that the walkways will be partially blocked by standing visitors.  Watch where you walk!  Anyone in a wheelchair, watch were you roll!

I would recommend that anyone in a wheelchair sit in the Fellowship Hall overflow area when they first arrive as opposed to in the main chapel.  From the Fellowship Hall, the doors leading directly from the hall to the central courtyard are isolated with steps so all wheelchairs will use the ramp access through the main hallway.

Upon vacating, all the chairs in the Fellowship Hall will be replaced with tables arranged for lunch service so DO NOT LEAVE ANY BELONGINGS BEHIND!  This room rearrangement will be key to starting lunch on time.

After viewing you are to immediately proceed to the food.  I have catered BBQ luncheon to follow.  The chef would have already started grilling and will have the entrees ready to go at 11:00am sharp.  The food will be setup buffet style in one of the classrooms off of the courtyard.  Help yourself and move into the “Fellowship Room” or into the courtyard seating.  Take the time to enjoy each others company and talk about Satomi’s life.

In the Fellowship Hall we will have a slide show playing about Satomi’s life and an open mike for anyone that may have a story to share.  I am told that we may have a few other surprises in there too.  There will only be seating for 150 persons in that room so the space is first come, first served.  The obvious overflow is the courtyard and then the spare classrooms that encircle the courtyard.

If all goes to plan, then we will join you by noon or soon thereafter.  If it doesn’t go to plan, enjoy yourselves, eat up, and we’ll see you whenever we can.

I am told that the extended weather forecast calls for some chance of rain that day so be ready!

Plans are all coming together so it still may change some .  If this occurs, I will update this post ASAP.

So, I’ve received many questions about flowers.

I purchased our casket arrangement from Creative Floral Designs (www.creativefloraldesigns.com).  Bernie, the owner of Creative, has been a friend of ours for many years and provided the flowers for our wedding back in 2002.  He is also my go-to-guy whenever there was an anniversary or there was a “sorry” due.  But there weren’t many of those…uh ya…

Anyway, I highly recommend Bernie and his crew, not only because of the quality of his work-just look at his website and all the testimonials-but because he’s already going to be there with our arrangements-Less chance of a mix-up.

No matter who you decide on, be sure to have them delivered to the chapel between 8:30am and 9:30am the day of the service.  The mortuary people will arrange them for room aesthetics.

So my “attendance” post basically said “want a seat, get there early”.  This post is going to say “want a parking spot, get there earlier”.

The church has nicely arranged lot of about 100 spaces.  If four people arrive in each car, that’s 400 people-Wonderful!  But that’s just not realistic.  If it was, there would be three or four carpool lanes on the freeway, not just one.

So what do you do?  Here’s the deal.

The church is providing two parking attendants.  They’re not valet’s so don’t jump out and throw them your keys.  They’re not insured to drive your car so they’re just going to let your keys hit the floor and start laughing at you.  The attendants job is to cram as many cars into that lot as physically possible.  Besides each space, that’ll also include along the buildings, along the fence, under the basketball hoops, everywhere.  Just follow their instructions without hitting anything.  If you do, they’ll deny everything and again, laugh at you.

There are some stacked parking spaces that we’ll try to fill with family members so the likelihood of leaving at the same time is much greater.  If it looks like you’re going to get stuck in the middle of those spaces and must leave at a specific time, assert yourself and don’t let it happen.  These guys are human and will likely be stressed from the activity so be nice but don’t park there.  If it’s as busy as it could be, you may not get out for hours.

If the lot is full, overflow parking is in the neighborhood surrounding the church.  I drove around today and it seemed like a decent neighborhood.  I wouldn’t be overly concerned however be respectful-Do not block anyone’s driveway!  I don’t want the church to get any complaints caused by one of our family or friends.

Also, with the possible high attendance, I would recommend that you drop your passengers off at the church before finding a parking space in the neighborhood.  If the lot is NOT full, ignore these instructions.  Do not drop your passengers-you may impede traffic.

There are about six handicapped spaces.  If you have a Disabled placard, I know you feel entitled but don’t expect these spaces to be open.  I know for a fact that there are many attendees that have such a placard.  Remember how it was before you got the placard.  Be just like everyone else and get there early disabled people!

Do not park on La Palma Avenue!  It’s a no parking zone on both sides.

I HIGHLY recommend carpooling!  If you drive up by yourself, I’ll do my best to embarrass you before I do my eulogy.

Finally and most importantly, if you see a space labeled “RESERVED FOR SEAN”, don’t even think about parking there.  It’s saved for a humorless guy that’s too stupid to heed the “get there early” philosophy.

Ok folks, here’s the deal.

I really tried to compose a good attendance estimate for Satomi’s service.  I’ve struggled with it for months now.  Our best guess based on Satomi’s activities, circles of friends, and young age is between 300 and 400 people.

But this ignores the blog-effect.

How many more people may attend because they have been monitoring Satomi’s condition on a regular basis?  I’m sure there is some manner to estimate it but I don’t know what it is.  All I can say for sure is that more people will attend with a blog than without one.

That said, I have my concerns that there will be enough seating.  The chapel has a maximum seating capacity of about 300 people and the overflow fellowship room will seat another 150 people.  After that, you have to stand or sit in an area with no view of the activities.

If you have any issues with this, I HIGHLY recommend that you arrive early.

I’m sorry but I have no idea what “early” means. If it helps, just know that “close family” is supposed to arrive at 9:30am and we have reserved seating.

Before you decide, be sure to read the other “Recommendation” posts.