{"id":212,"date":"2005-09-03T23:53:24","date_gmt":"2005-09-04T08:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/2005\/09\/03\/two-down-one-to-go\/"},"modified":"2005-09-03T23:53:24","modified_gmt":"2005-09-04T08:53:24","slug":"two-down-one-to-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/2005\/09\/03\/two-down-one-to-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Two down, one to go."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Memorial service was today, and I sat there through it thinking “Man, he’d have gotten a fuckin kick outa this…” <\/p>\n

The local lodge of Elks ran the services for him, and held their traditional Elks goodbye. the nice thing was that I didn’t have to do a thing, and he’d have just flat out loved all the pomp and circumstance. I do know that the Chimes of Rememberance will never sound the same again. Before it was just something they did at “the 11th hour” which is the hour of rememberance. It could not have struck a deeper chord with me if it had been a 21 gun salute with taps played in the background – something that always makes me cry.<\/p>\n

Aunt JR, Kevin’s sister, spoke his Eulogy that she had written, and there was not a dry eye in the house, and there was laughter at the same time. There was nothing anyone could have said that was more perfect, or more fitting. It was beautiful and perfect and I was so proud of her that she was able to read the whole thing. It was more then I could have done myself – that fear of public speaking coupled with tears is simply not a good look for me – and I am so grateful taht she was here and able to speak for him. It was something she needed to do, as well, and….. yeah. I lost where I was going with that somewhere.
\n
\nThe outpouring of support has been amazing. The flowers<\/a> are a bit overwhelming, just because they are so big but oh! they smell so good! There is one in particular that is simply beautiful and special, however, and that’s this one:<\/p>\n

\"oildrum.jpg\"<\/center><\/p>\n

One of Kevin’s co-workers, a welder up on the North Slope, makes these from the lids of oil drums. The picture cannot possibly do it justice, it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. And the kids have said I’m allowed to touch that, since I can’t possibly kill those ones. The Peace Lily, however, I’m to keep my hands off of. Hee. Me and my non-green thumb agree. *chuckles*<\/p>\n

The kids held up well, the pup is just simply tired of all of this and is acting out a bit. She’s also sick, and has tonsils the size of texas. Sean had some moments, as did Mairiah, but I think it’s settling in, and they’re settling down a bit.<\/p>\n

Kevin’s boss brought over the things he’d packed up from Kevin’s room up there, and I went through it briefly and found the bag of shirts that he had bout for the kids when he went to work the last time. He was so excited about them, they even had pink ones for the girls. I gave them to the kids right away, and I was so proud to see them hug them, and smile. Not cry, but smile. It went a long way toward easing my fears. I’m so proud of them for holding up so very well through all of this.<\/p>\n

Gary went home tonight, Bubba returns tomorrow, as does Aunt JR. THey couldn’t stay for the bus party, but we will be sure to drink a beer for them anyway. I’m glad that its all done but the party, because I don’t feel like I have to plan anything for that. It will be as Kevin’s camping trips always were, spontanious and full of laughter and mishaps. That’s the way it *should* be.<\/p>\n

The outpouring of support and help from people I’ve never even met is staggering. Today i was handed enough to pay all of this month’s bills, with some left over. Social Security should kick in by that time, and I will have gotten all my payments reduced and such as well. I’m stunned with the generosity of everyone who’s been touched by Kevin. I always knew he had a ton of friends, but to see it in action like this is amazing. He never knew strangers- they were just friends he hadn’t met yet. There are those who know the kids as well, and of course me and my family, and Kevin’s parents too. They come out of the wood work, they touch the shoulder, they offer help, they give support, they are there for every member of my family. It’s mind-blowing. I’m grateful for every single one of them, every offer of help, every dollar, every meal. <\/p>\n

I can’t really find the words to say what it all means to me. I’m just so grateful that I live up here, and that I am surrounded by such amazing people.<\/p>\n

I couldn’t do it without them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Memorial service was today, and I sat there through it thinking “Man, he’d have gotten a fuckin kick outa this…” The local lodge of Elks ran the services for him, and held their traditional Elks goodbye. the nice thing was that I didn’t have to do a thing, and he’d have just flat out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-myriad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gonfalon.org\/eclat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}