One last Salute

Dear Diary,

Well I just got back from the funeral. It was small and mainly older people. I saw the next door neighbors of his on the guest list when I signed in, my mom was already there.

It was your typical boring funeral, sorry no offense meant, I prefer funerals remembering and talking about the person instead of endless scriptures read and long dull prayers(Sorry Im a christian and have no problem with it but some people just go on and on.)

Anyways, I’s niece came up to speak. Well it turns out back in 1993 I was at a funeral for someone else and she was doing the speaking, I was impressed by her and wrote her a letter and said when he passes away some 20 years or so down the line he wanted her to speak at his funeral, and what he would like her to say and read. It was actually very sweet. As his personality was interjected into it.

And she spoke about him herself being a child, how he reminded her of Clark Gable.

Anyways it was just really sweet, and he was a War Veteran and very patriotic which is what he wanted read a letter he wrote to the paper in the 90s about veterans day.

They said before he passed away and his family last saw him, he was lying there so weak and still and his eyes closed and the family left the room slowly looking back at him, I opened his eyes, feebly lifted his arm to his forehead and gave one last SALUTE.

Thats when the tears welled up in my eyes. 🙂

They talked about how devoted to his wife he was, how he took such good care of her and adored her. Yes he always spoke about her, she passed away in 1990 and everytime I saw him he would say “My Dear Sweet Iris” and refer to her.

I went over to the graveside ceremony, my mom left, over there I saw another one of my old neighbors so I gave him a hug, his daughter was friends with my middle sis in highschool and their grandkids go to school with my oldest.

So now Im home, there is a reception at the Elks Lodge but Im not gonna go. I dont really know who anyone is.

I have to leave in a few to get the kiddies,,,

B wrote an email today saying he was going to get off at 3:30 and try to make it home for youngest childs program. Aweeeee see he does think of these things at times just when I least expect it.

See part of me is touched, the other part worries hes gonna be a grouch, we shall see. Hes been irritable the last few days and all, tired, stressed cause of the commute. So I know I cant judge how he will be tonight, but we go off past experiences right? I hate it when people are just in a crappy mood, but they go to an event, and act all crappy and irritable and quiet to you. I dunno, guess its just the personalities we are, Introvert and Extrovert.

But I dont know how that will be a good thing in the long run…

By the way, to my friends with the comments, thanks! And I got them and Ill respond some later. Love you all!