Good Bye

Mindy and I were up and moving by 7am to help facilitate the aggressive agenda planned for the day’s early hours. We had to be at the funeral home by 10am, but several other things had to take place ahead of time. First, Mindy had a planned meeting at school that she couldn’t miss. Then, after hurrying back home, she planned to get the kids to the sitter, pick-up Ashley & Olivia. Me, I had to run and then pick-up Lindsey from work.

I was back from my run by 8:25am, and Mindy was already back home hurrying the kids along. It was yet another beautiful sunny & warm morning. Mindy and the kids left around 8:45am. She would meet us at the funeral home around 10am.

Glenn was already up having coffee and readying for the day. Around 9am I got showered and dressed. We left the house at 9:25am. Lindsey works right around the corner. She was waiting for us in the parking lot. We arrived at the funeral home by 9:45am. Mindy was waiting in the foyer for us.

As expected, the mood was somber. The funeral service began promptly at the top of the hour. Reverend Haubrich performed the service, and he's fittingly familiar to family. He did Sheila’s father, Margie’s husband, Donnie, and Grandma Wright’s. He did a very nice job. Brother Bob delivered a touching eulogy, too. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. As the service concluded Bob, Shawn, Glennie, Jimmy, Tommy, and Charles were asked to act as pallbearers. We carried out our duty with the utmost dignity & respect.

The precession to Greenlawn Cemetery took about 15 minutes. It took us by Grandma Wright’s old home. Holding with tradition, Glenn and I honked our horn in tribute as we often do anytime we drive by the house. Gathered at the cemetery we once again performed our pallbearer duties. The graveside service was brief but emotional. We all paid our final respects. As a loving gesture, the funeral director passed out roses to those that requested. Everyone left for their cars and for a gathering at brother Bob’s. Glenn and I stayed back to witness the vault enveloping the casket and the subsequent lowering into the ground. They performed this task with precision and respect.

We left the sight with the intention of visiting Tiffany and perhaps Grandma Wright. We found mom, Charles, and Melissa already there paying their respects. We were there for about ten minutes. We left for home around noon.

Fittingly, as we drove west the sky clouded over and soon the warm sunny weather we experienced for the last five days was gone. Mindy called to tell me that Tommy was likely already at our house changing his clothes. He was. I changed clothes too. Soon, Mindy and the kids were home. We wasted little time getting ready for Bob’s. We left for Bob’s around 12:30pm.

At Bob’s we gathered for some food and family bonding. But because we were late, many were already leaving just as we were arriving. We hung out at Bob’s for about two hours. Courtney made a brief there too. We arrived home around 3:30pm. Jim picked the kids up for their usual Wednesday visit around 5pm. While they were gone we enjoyed some quiet time at home. Glenn downloaded numerous photos and made CD’s for brother Bob & I.

The rest of the evening was uneventful culminating in an early bedtime. We did watch the Idol vote off. Chris Sly said bye-bye.