When I Get to Heaven

by Sandy Arena on 02/03/14

Tomorrow we will bury my husband's father.

This has been the second family member we have lost this past year. My oldest brother Jimmy died on July 4. He was a former Marine, so I imagine this day was a good day for the Lord to call him home.

My brother's funeral this past summer was a military burial, complete with all the pomp and circumstance, and the playing of taps. These are the kind of moments that bring you chills.

I seem to have been called to grief. My show The Life Ballet deals with grief after "choice". I have written so many songs for this show dealing with grief and taken photos for people who have lost loved ones as an expression of their sorrow and loss. Our dance school was once named after a child who had passed to be with Jesus.

My sister-in-law asked my sister to take pictures at my brother's burial. The job was then turned over to me, and I could not have been more honored. I am most comfortable viewing life behind my lens, and then re-processing it through pictures, words, music and movement for others to experience.

My children are very creative. My son sang this poem the night before my brother's service. We were all laying in our beds, lights out, in the hotel room, and he started singing - something common to his very core. This is what he sang, sweet words from the mouth of a child.


When I get to Heaven, I am going to ask a lot of questions because there are so many things I want to do. Like could I have a piece of Noah's beard and a piece of Mars for a souvenir? Could I have a cloud for my pillow; some sun for my light bulb and a rainbow for my floor? Could I have Calvin Johnson's football helmet and see of video of Jesus being born? Could I meet George Washington and Abraham Lincoln too? Could I ride down Niagara Falls or jump off the Eiffel Tower? When I get to Heaven, there is so much I want to do.

I hope these words give peace knowing there is so much more for us beyond this life here on Earth.