Papa's Funeral

Lets see if I can recap:

Last week on Tuesday evening I received a call that my grandpa (my mom's father) had passed away. On Wednesday I woke as usual and headed into work. Not long after I got a call from Jerimy saying that Oliver was throwing up all over the house. Good times.  When we knew that the funeral was to be on Saturday morning with a Friday night visitation I knew I had to go with or without the boys. It was a very hard decision knowing that I didn't want to be alone but that Lucius and Jerimy couldn't make the trip in sick mode, I took Oliver with me. We carpooled with Auntie Mick and Auntie Em, Brianna and Casen on Thursday night. Of course, Friday morning I came down with the same plague I tired to leave behind. I am eternally grateful for understanding family and to have sooo many of them. Oliver seemed a bit more himself as he played with cousins and aunts while I attempted more sleep. We were able to join the family at the visitation and to see Papa Great (as several great grandchildren call him).

It's amazing the things that raced through my hazy brain as I tried to figure out just the right words to explain to Oliver what was happening. I never thought I'd use Disney to help a three year old understand death. But I do try to tell our kids the truth in their terms for most situations and I happened to remember one of his favorite short films "Johnny Appleseed" (on the Disney American Legends DVD) seemed appropriate. 

The Angel tells Johnny's soul that it's just his moral husk sleeping and that he's going to heaven. I wasn't sure he was getting it. When I asked him if he wanted to say goodbye he told me "I can't he's not answering me!".  Later, I thought Oliver actually seemed to remember and grasp the concept when he asked: "Papa Great is in the box, but where'd the other Papa Great go?"

Out of 22 grandchildren, my grandfather only had 6 grandsons, 5 of them were able to make it to the funeral and be pallbearers. I was honored to be asked to be an additional pallbearer for my grandpa's casket. I will miss my Grandpa terribly. I'm am proud to be a part of a large family and one that can live hundreds of miles away but remain close. A family he and my grandma so lovingly raised and nurtured.