Saying Goodbye

Well - it was a tough weekend. All of us said goodbye to Grandma and she was laid to rest next to my Grandpa on Monday, September 15. (it was our 7th wedding anniversary too.)

After watching her suffer for so long, suddenly I can't believe that she is actually gone.

The visitation was very crowded for most of the night. We had many photos of Grandma with the grandchildren and the great grandchildren. We also displayed some of the quilts that she has made for all of us.

The best part makes me giggle. Grandma loved a good bacardi coke. She also loved to visit casinos. In MN, the drinking age is 21 but the gambling age is 18 - so most of the casinos do not sell alcohol but they give you all the free pop that you can drink. Grandma always said she wished she could get a drink at the casino, so my cousin Jenny bought her a flask and had it engraved to say "Grandma's Spirits." She told her to just bring her flask filled with Bacardi and add it to her pop at the casino. Well - everyone knew Grandma wouldn't be happy if she couldn't get a good drink in Heaven, so Jenny filled her flask with Bacardi and stuck it up Grandma's sleeve in the casket. I bet Grandma is enjoying a good Bacardi-Coke right now! Grandma was also burried wearing a tanzanite necklace that I had given her for Christmas a few years ago - it was very pretty with her suit.

The service didn't go quite as planned. My cousin Jason was also to give a eulogy but right before the service started, his infant son choked on some foam letters that he somehow found while playing on the floor in the church nursery. An ambulance had to be called and he was rushed to the hospital. Jason went with him and my cousin, Jenny, stepped in to read what Jason had written. She did a beautiful job. Mike also filled in for Jason as a casket bearer. It sounds like Little Lieghton is fine and doing well - but what a scary experience for the little guy!

I made it through my eulogy with only a few minor catches in my voice. I was able to shut myself off from all emotion until I was done - thankfully! I was happy that to hear quite a few chuckles over the stories that I told - proving my point that funerals should be a celebration and a time to remember the life that was and not so much to mourn what was lost. (When I die, I want everyone to wear bright colors to my funeral, tell funny stories, and make pitchers of margaritas....make it one big party!)

Watching the bearers carry her from the church and load her in the waiting car was very difficult on all of us. Thank God for the strong arms of family through it all.

We will return to our regularly scheduled Vikings bashing in a day or two.....maybe I will even include a few pictures from tailgating at Lambeau Field.