Living Green: Saying Goodbye

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Saying Goodbye

We made our second cross country trip in ten days this past weekend. I have to admit that I was dreading traveling. Who really wants to fly with a one year old? There was no way that I could miss saying goodbye to Grandpa Dave, so we gathered ourselves together again (bags still not quite unpacked from our last trip) and made our way west.

It was an incredible trip.

As you read before, we have been pretty exhausted around here. With so much sickness going around, we've been just trying to hold it all together. The thing is, the trip was uplifting and I came home not tired at all. I think it was recalling Grandpa's life and seeing all of the love and support that we received. It made me want to be a better person. To care more about my community.

At Grandpa's funeral, there were hundreds of people who came through the viewing or attended the funeral and even more that called or stopped by the house. My Grandpa was 83 when he passed away and people from all over turned up to honor him, old, young and everything in between. There was family and then family of family (all of my mom's immediate family came, even though they are not related to Dave) who came out to support us.

There were people from all walks of life, nurses from the assisted living center, men in work clothes and cowboy boots, and women in black dresses and heels. I can tell you that Grandpa Dave would have loved it all. He loved people and people felt that genuine spirit. It didn't matter who you were - stranger or friend, rich or poor, educated or not, there was a "hello there" with a twinkle in his eye and a funny story to share.

I was blown away by all of the flowers, I have never seen so many arrangements at a funeral before. So many people shared stories about how he'd helped them out in some way or touched their life for the better. There was a beautiful meal provided by the church. So many community members who serve and give with no thought of reward.

So we said farewell to Grandpa. He's given me so much over the years and as his final gift, he reminded me about who I am at my roots and to always be proud of that. I want to give like he did and to be a friend like he was.