On Friday, I left at 5:45am and headed to my home town where I met up with two sisters and my parents. We drove another hour or so and attended the funeral of one of my uncles. I'd only seen him a handful of times since I was much younger. He was actually my dad's brother-in-law.
I WOULD have kept it together but they played a song at the beginning of the service and I wept. And then they played another equally successful tear jerky song at the end... sigh...
I should have brought tissues.
So much that I hadn't known about Jim. It was good to see my cousins again after so many years. They all got taller. And my aunt is still just as elegant and beautiful as ever. I'm glad she's got her kids close.
Their 50th wedding anniversary a few years back.
On the way back to hometown Iowa, I rode with my brother. I don't get to see him much. He's pretty busy too. It must run in the family...
Before we left town, we drove out to the dam where Bonnie and Jim had had a cabin that we'd visited a lot when we were kids. TONS of memories. His son bought it several years ago so now the grandkids have a blast on the beach where I found a snapping turtle all those years ago. Jim had had a house built nearby with a gorgeous view of the dam. I hadn't been there before, but Mark drove me past it to show me.
As we drove over the dam to get back onto the highway home, he told me a story about a fancy, schmanzy restaurant that operated within view of the dam. Some friends of his were dressed all nice and enjoying an expensive dinner with several others in front of two story windows overlooking the dam. A bald eagle landed in the tree just outside the window with a cat in it's talons.
That eagle proceeded to rip that cat to shreds in full view of the diners...
Check please!
We'd hoped to visit with his daughter, Norah's mom, on a beach but couldn't get her on the phone until we were driving back over the dam. "We're on the dam driving REALLY slow! Do you see us? We're waving!" They didn't see us. Oh well. We'll catch her another time.
Mark had to get home and finish packing up his stuff. He was headed to Burning Man on Saturday.
Like I said, he's a busy guy!
He must have made it. Someone posted this pic of him yesterday.
Oops - Correction: they posted a pic of a Ragbrai bike ride from a few years ago...
I'm sure there is one similar at Burning Man.
AND I found one! This is from last year.
Just my wild and crazy brother... Someday, HIS funeral service will provide insights of his life that I hadn't known either.
5 comments:
Aww honey you and I are traveling the same road. It is just hard, but I keep thinking of the reunion in heaven and it makes me happy.
YIKES! One more reason to keep my kitties inside!! Out of 6 uncles I have just one left and he's 92. While it is sad to lose them it is really the only time I get to see cousins that I haven't seen for years and years.
So sorry for your family's loss, keeping you in my prayers.
blessings,
Jill
I'm sorry for your loss, and glad you were able to be there for your family. After my aunt passed away in March, I have mo aunts or Uncles on either of my parents side. That generation has all passed on. I feel way to young to be part of the oldest living generation, but I guess I am. So different from my husbands side where he still has a couple great aunts and Uncles alive. He just lost a 70 year old aunt to cancer though-so time is not standing still for his family either.
We had a funeral for my aunt a few weeks ago and I saw relatives I rarely see. Then this past Saturday we had a family reunion where I saw most of my extended family. Reunions are so much better than funerals to be with those we love but rarely see.
So sorry for your loss and tears but so happy for the family time and memories you got to share.
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