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July 30, 2007

"Farewells..."

Even though I've known that Saturday was coming for a while it was easy to view it from a distance rather than to actually be caught up in it. A Funeral is what it is. It's not a Birthday party or a Graduation party or something jovial and festive. It's a chance to say goodbye, share memories, support family members and honor the dead.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many people came out on Saturday. (About half were my grandparents age and the other half split between my mother and aunts ages and closer to mine.) I had no shortage of "Look how tall and handsome you've become" compliments which proves that using the belt sander to get the ugly off earlier that morning was the right thing to do.

The minister's words were well received and everyone I spoke too thought he did a great job. I had wanted to speak but it didn't work out for time. By the time things were over Saturday I just wanted to sit somewhere under a tree with a beer.

Jack wanted to see my grandfather on Saturday and I lifted him up in my arms next to the casket. He asked if "grandpa" was sleeping and I said that he was. He asked if he was going to wake up and I explained that he wasn't. Finally he asked me if I was sad and I said "yes". Jack then leaned in to me and put his head on my shoulder and said, for the second time in the last few days, "It's ok Daddy."

And then it got just a little bit better.

Posted by Jim at July 30, 2007 09:15 AM

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